(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)Hebrews 10:14 – For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.Translations vary by calling ‘spur’ (NIV) provoke, encourage, arouse, and stir up. All these words suggest that Christians love and do good for others, especially in the church.A young Israelite girl, captured to be h e his wife’s maid, suggested her master go to Elisha for a cure of his leprosy. (I King 5:2,3 – Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.) Barnabas, an encourager, led the Jerusalem church to accept Paul as a servant of Christ. (Acts 9:26 – When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.) He knew Paul no longer would persecute the church.Grace, a provoker in a small group, stirred the church women to sew pajamas for a small orphanage. They made and gave quilts to burned out families and sewed layettes for missions.We, too, can become provokers for God in our own circles. God bless them.Prayer: Lord, help me to see and fulfill the needs of others.
