Who Are You Considering Today?

Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gems from the Greek


Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

New Am Standard version “And let us consider how to ‘stimulate’ one another to love and good deeds.”

Do you ever get so busy and self-consumed that forget that there are people all you who have needs and challenges too? So many times we get caught up in our own little world of motherhood and trying to be the best of everything. We start to form a big bubble around us and we shut out the people who need us.

Let’s look at the word ‘consider’. It’s from the Greek word Katanoeo, a compound of the words kata and noeo. These 2 words placed together means to thoroughly think something through or to ponder something, or carefully contemplating a matter. We should be constantly observing and contemplating each other to know how to encourage and provoke each other to love and to good works.

The word ‘provoke’ is the Greek word paraxusmos. This describes someone who has come alongside of someone else for the purpose of prodding and encouraging that person to do something. In Hebrews 10:24 this word provoke is telling us that our relationships with other believers should incite us to become better, stronger and bolder in the Lord.

How can we provoke or stimulate a friend in the Lord in such a way that we make them ‘want’ to walk in love and do good works?

1. Come alongside them and love them enough not to leave them in discouragement and defeat.

2. Sharpen them, prod them, impel them, and inspire them to keep on fighting the good fight.

Do you agree that ALL believers need to be provoked at times, no matter what their position is in the Body of Christ? A little loving push in the right direction now and then!

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” What does this verse mean to you?

There is nothing like living in an atmosphere of faith and love where you are surrounded by believers who really believe and practice the Word of God. Having friends like this gives us strength. Being a friend like this to someone helps give them the strength they need to live as an overcomer.

How many of you have had friends go out of their way to call you, drop by to see you, write you a note to check on you because they’ve noticed you needed some encouraging? How many of you have called a friend, dropped by the see them, written them a note because you have noticed they needed some encouraging?

Can you think of someone right now who needs you to be a source of strength and encouragement? Who are you considering today?