LEARNING DAILY

 

Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

 

I will never forget watching my dad sharpen knives. He would move the knife he was sharpening up and down a long steel rod made for that purpose – on one side of the blade going down and come up the rod with the other side of the knife. He did it so quickly that the change to the other side of the knife was never seen by me. He never cut himself doing that as far as I knew. The result was the knife becoming very sharp so he could cut the meat he was cutting. The knife, without being sharpened would still be a knife but it would be dull and not as effective. But sharpened it became very effective to cut and slice the meat.

 

I have been very fortunate to have people in my life that helped and challenged me to grow in my reading and understanding God’s Word. There is a need for fellowship with other Christians, to get together and study God’s Word and to pray together. Man was not created to be alone. God recognized that before sin entered the world. Since that time, it is even more important for men and women to be with other Believers. Jesus said that whenever two or more gathered in His name, He would be in their midst (Matthew 18:20). We sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.

 

The people in my life have sharpened me! They challenged me to be in God’s Word and to teach it. When I made a mistake – and I made some good ones – they lovingly (and in some not so loving ways) corrected me and helped me become better in knowing the word and teaching it so it could be understood. I was fortunate to have fellow teachers I could ask questions of. One taught across the hall from me and another down the hall in another building. They even asked me questions at times. Our discussions and praying together sharpened me! We don’t get to do that anymore but we do still have our times through blogs and phone calls. I was fortunate, I think, to have sharp students who asked questions; I had to be prepared. I still have one who sharpens me and I enjoy every minute of it. He has become my teacher in some ways. David considered Jonathon to be his friend. Paul mentioned Quartus to be his friend at the end of his writing to the Romans and Peter mentioned Silvanus as a faithful friend. The sharpened each other. I have had Don and Jim and Manual to be my faithful brothers.

 

Believers must spend time encouraging, sharing, and even correcting each other. When we do, the body of Christ shines brighter and does the particular role God has for us better. We shine brighter because the dullness of us is rubbed off. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching [the return of Christ]”. Believers are to take seriously to do all we can to help people live the best they can as they walk on the narrow way to heaven.

 

I believe the Day of Christ returning for His Church is near. Because of that we need to sharpen each other to live for Him, to love one another and do good works that glorifies and honors Him.