Tuesday, April 23, 2013

People Sharpeners

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

5:12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;
5:13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
5:14 And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.
5:15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
5:16 Rejoice always,
5:17 pray without ceasing,
5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
5:20 Do not despise the words of prophets,
5:21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;
5:22 abstain from every form of evil.
 
- Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

 
 
The butcher I worked with in a small-town grocery store showed me the best way to sharpen knives. I watched as he used a round metal file to sharpen not only his knives but his cleavers as well. Then he taught me the technique. Today I own a file, and my knives are always sharp. The process of sharpening requires that iron meet iron. The friction wears away a dull edge to form a new one. My butcher friend told me that a dull knife isn’t safe; it’s actually more likely to cause serious injury. And a dull knife obviously doesn’t do the job as effectively as a sharp one. So sharpening makes a tool more efficient and prepares it for the next job.

Similarly, our Christian friends can help us remain open to God’s work in us. Their counsel may seem like unwanted friction at times, but we need friends who remind us of God’s wisdom, keep us grounded in truth, and hold us accountable. Such accountability prepares us for the work God has for us to do.

Thought for the Day

How has God used my Christian friends to “sharpen” me?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Christian friends who love us enough to walk with us, pray for us, and lead us into truth so that we can become like Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus     My mentors in faith and those needing mentoring

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