Growing up as one of five children we had our share of sibling rivalry … or worse. Long car rides were prime times for things to erupt. Back in the day when seatbelt rules weren't what they are today we would all pile into our '57 Chevy – four of us in the back and one up front in the middle seat. Careful negotiations went into who would sit in the middle, who would get the window seats and who would have to endure the dreaded seat up front. We planned the schedule for seating and for how long with great care and attention. Somehow we would always manage a fight or two over the arrangements, that they weren't fair … someone was getting better seats for longer. And after so many hours in the car we'd get to the place of starting to provoke one another, and soon it would be: "he's on my side, her elbow is taking up too much space … he touched me." My siblings and I found many ways to cultivate the art of provoking each other … my sister and I had a time when we had the proverbial line down the middle of our room to keep our things separate. Our line was represented by the room being painted half in one color, half in another.

If you have siblings, you have had similar moments of provoking one another to anger and misdeeds. And if not with siblings, I suspect that somewhere in each childhood there are memories of provoking someone, or being provoked to a point where we are less than at our best. As adults, we develop the art of provoking each other so that it is a bit better disguised but still exists nonetheless. We have co-workers that know how to push our buttons, we have habits that push the buttons of others. There are daily things in life that cause us to fly off the handle. We might not say "he touched me, or she's on my side," any longer, but on an adult level we still practice those thoughts. We know all to well the art of provoking and being provoked for ill.

Even congregations are not immune. In the Christian Century Peter Gomes writes about the foibles of Christianity in this regard: Christians, alas, are not famous for encouraging one another. Sometimes the phrase "Christian love" has an unintended sense of irony about it. And the verse that reads "see how these Christians love one another" is often used as a rebuke to the patent lack of love and encouragement among Christians. There is an old story about Baptists and Methodists singing their hearts out on opposite corners of a downtown district. The Methodists are asking the great gospel question, "Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?" while the Baptists, as if in reply, are singing one of their favorites, "No, Not One." Censure and competition, rebuke and self-righteousness --these far too often tell the story of our relationship with one another within the church. (link)

All this brings us to this morning's text from the book of Hebrews. Even though it is included in the epistle, or letter section of the New Testament, it is more of a treatise. The unknown author wants to argue for the supremacy of Jesus Christ as the sufficient means of grace for all. The author's audience is well versed in the Jewish system of sacrifice and temple practices and uses this information in making the arguments for Jesus Christ. As 21st century readers we might get lost in the complex references to the temple systems, the high priests and sacrificial hierarchies that the author uses to argue his point. Such systems as unfamiliar to us today as they would have been familiar to the intended audience of this treatise in its time. Because of this we might miss the gems of the book such as the one found in this morning's text: "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

In as many ways the author can think of, Hebrews reminds us of the beauty and depth of God's love for us – that as followers of Jesus Christ we have the ultimate example of how deep this love is. We may no longer understand the system of temple sacrifices or even care who the high priest Melchizedek was … but we can know this from reading Hebrews – that in Jesus Christ we can know God's saving grace offered freely, with no action on our part other than a willingness to accept this gift. And it is in the loving and giving example of Jesus that we live our lives.

"Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds." He touched me, she's on my side … remember those childish words when someone invades our space. Think of what Jesus did when a woman snuck through the crowds and touched the hem of his garment. Yes, we hear those words … "who touched me?" But in a whole different way. He did not send this woman to what society and culture would have deemed her proper place, he did not get arrogant and uppity about her inappropriate actions. No, what did he do? He healed her, included her, gave her a new place.

This is the example we follow. What would it look like to provoke one another to love and good deeds in the example and name of Jesus Christ? Somehow we need to work towards making this as natural as breathing, or cynically as naturally as pushing the buttons of irritation seem to be. A small example – driving towards Newman Springs Rd a few days ago I heard someone honking their horn at the car ahead of them. The driver was going too slowly for this person's taste … in other words, doing the speed limit. All kinds of things could have happened – I don't know about you, but when someone honks their horn at me in this kind of situation, my tendency is to slow down. But in this case the driver being honked at, right signaled and pulled over, allowing the other car to speed on. That's something you rarely see happen! And, to make the story better, the car truly had a fish symbol on it. Not only did the car have the symbol of Christianity, the driver of the vehicle was demonstrating Christian action. I have no idea what was provoked in the honking driver, but one can only hope that someday the deed will come back to them.

Because of the offering of Jesus Christ we dare to live boldly before God and can witness to the power of God's love. We do not do this arrogantly or with any sense we can do this on our own. Our work is done as a reflection of what God has done for us, how God has loved us. As we work together, as we go forth into the world, again the question, what would it look like for you to be constantly seeking ways to provoke one another to love and good deeds? What are you being called to do in the name and example of Jesus Christ so that another person might know what it means to be loved by God?