Saturday, October 22, 2011

…..iron sharpens iron………

As a tribute to my best friend and prayer partner’s birthday this week, I am going to write about how we can sharpen each other.

My friend has encouraged, challenged and incited me to become all Christ has called me to be.   She has truly been “iron sharpening iron”.    For that I am grateful beyond words! 

I pray that God will bless you a thousand fold!

Happy Birthday, Suzanne!   

 “As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend”.    Prov. 27:17 NLT

Have you ever tried to use a pair of scissors or a knife only to find that they are dull?    It was probably frustrating!

Just as a knife that is not sharp is not productive, useful, helpful, or ready-------so to be sharpened as a person is to be ready for life, useful, helpful and productive.

 It reflects the fullness of life: physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

The principle is clear; just as iron sharpens iron----so we sharpen someone to prepare, make glad, useful and productive for growing in every area of life.

The Word of God calls each of us to teach, encourage, set an example, explain, exhort, and to prompt each other on towards love and good deeds.

The Bible also teaches us to be careful in the words we use, the example we set and how we treat others.

One thing is for certain we cannot sharpen one another by being indifferent, independent, and fake.

I think Paul summed it all up when he said; “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too”  (I Thess. 2:8 NLT).

That is how it is when we experience sharpening by those who invest themselves in our lives.  It is the joy we experience when we invest our lives to sharpen each other to grow, to become more useful, capable and ready for life: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually!

As we consider this truth---the principle of true relationships----we should ask ourselves a couple of questions:

Who sharpens you?

How are you sharpening others to be ready for Jesus’ return?

“Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing”.     I Thess. 5:11 Amp.


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