Phoenix Respite – Day 2

 

Just a reminder, I’m away at a conference…enjoy this older blog post. I’ll be back soon!

 

Iron Sharpens Iron

 

2011-2-15 Daytona 002 (640x360)Over the past couple of days, I’ve been reminded of Proverbs 27:17 several times. I believe God has placed before me so that I might think about this passage. You know meditate upon it and see what God has to say through this verse.

 

The nature of verses in Proverbs is that they are stand-alone verses. There is nothing before it or after it to give me a better understanding of this verse. So what exactly does this verse of Scripture mean?

 

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 – NIV)

 

I cook a lot and one of the most important tools in the kitchen is a good knife. I’ve searched and searched for the perfect set of knives through the years. I’ve settled on the knife collection by RADA Cutlery. Their blades are strong and yet flexible. They aren’t cheap, but they aren’t the expensive brands either. The handles fit well in my hands, they are light-weight, and they are shiny…as long as they are NOT put in the dishwasher!

 

I have come to understand that my search for Christian friendship has been a similar experience. Through the years I’ve found some beautiful believers who stretch me. Their thinking, their beliefs, their lifestyle are similar to mine and yet, they push me one step further. These are the people I can look to for sharpening. They are able to expand my thinking and imagining. And then they urge me to get out there and do what I’ve learned.

 

Now, back to the knives. Like any other knife, they become dull with use. My knife drawer holds another tool that is just as important as the knife. My knife sharpener. With a couple of swipes, the knife blade is ready to go to work again.

 

There have been times in my life when I too have become dull. I’ve allowed sin to my focus instead of Jesus. It’s during those moments when God’s Spirit has brought me back to Jesus. Through Scripture, through godly people, and through a desire to be more like Him, I’ve been sharpened and ready to go back to work for the Kingdom.

 

Another element to the knife sharpener is that it is one sided. The knife doesn’t sharpen the knife sharpener. The knife sharpener sharpens the knife. But in our lives, we must be on the lookout for others who need to be sharpened. As we become more focused on God’s will for our lives, we are able to see others who need the same focus. We are able to point others to Jesus and help them see the sin in their own lives.

 

I am blessed with some pretty spectacular folks that God has brought into my life. These people love me with the love of the Lord and when shown in a godly way, have helped me to see sin that God hated. I’ve been able to see the ugliness and dullness of what sin can do in a life. And I know that’s not how I want to live.

 

So I must ask these questions. Who is sharpening you? And who are you sharpening? I pray that you have found your sharpening friends.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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