Encourage one another……………

“An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!

Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy”.   Prov. 27:5-6  NLT

The Bible tells us that we are to watch out for each other.   A friend does not let those he/she knows wander off into sin.   There are going to be times when true friends disagree, but that is because they care about each other. 

There will be times when we must confront a friend because they have made wrong choices but it does not mean they are answerable to us for the choices they make—for those decisions are answerable to God.

Friends challenge you to reach further than you thought you could go.  Of course, you need to be careful who you claim as friends.   You do not want to be around those who are a bad influence.

Here are a few ways iron sharpens iron:

Showing love for one another.  John 13:34-35

Confession of sins and prayer for one another.   James 5:16

Worshipping and studying with one another.   Col. 3:16

Showing humility to one another.   Phil. 2:3-4

Simply spending quality time together.  Col. 3: 12-13

Let us therefore be encouraged to spend more time together, exhorting, encouraging, praying, admonishing, sharing God’s Word, praying over God’s Word that we become more sharper and more cutting in the ministry that the Lord has assigned to each one of us.

Finally, a knife that has been sharpened will also shine more because all the dullness has been rubbed off its surface.   Likewise, we will shine better for our Lord if we do the things mentioned above consistently. 

“We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.   Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that.  We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer”.   Heb. 10:24-25 CEV