His Grace in the Journey ~ Iron Sharpens Iron

As iron sharpens iron,

                so one person sharpens another.

                            Proverbs 27:17

For most of my life, I have heard this verse from the Bible.  However, I have to admit that I never really practiced it day to day.

I always thought it was best to just mind my own business, go about my day, not confront others ~ I just thought it wasn’t my place to correct someone else.
Although I have practiced it with my daughters; being their mom, it was my place to correct, to guide, to comfort, to set what we call “course corrections” in their lives.

But applying this to my friends and other family members – well, I just stayed in my safe place and went along day to day.
It wasn’t until recently, that I personally experienced this Bible verse.  Someone cared enough about me to point out that some of my ways were not exactly what I would call God-honoring.

I struggled with pride, not being a good listener, being controlling, being judgmental, and a few other traits I am not too proud of.

Oh, I convinced myself that these traits were completely acceptable.  See, I have been through some tough years and felt that….

I wasn’t controlling – I had be responsible and care of my daughters and my life.

I wasn’t prideful – I was portraying self-confidence.

I wasn’t judgmental – I was seeing things for the way they were

I was a good listener – but I also wanted desperately to be heard.

Whew….wrong, wrong, wrong, oh and wrong.

Oh, how we can excuse our actions so easily.  And while it was very (yes, very) difficult to have these not-so-great traits brought to my attention ~ I am SO very, very grateful this person did care enough about me to tell me.

Why?  Quite simply because I could not see it.  I had every excuse imaginable to cover my actions – but they were wrong.  And because this person cared enough about me – they challenged me to make some very necessary course corrections in my own life.

Yes, iron sharpens iron.

You see, there is mutual benefit when two iron blades are rubbed together; the edges become sharper, making the edges more efficient in their task to cut and slice.

Likewise, the Word of God is a “double-edged sword” – Hebrews 4:12 - and it is with this that we are to sharpen one another – always.

Yes, iron sharpens iron.

If a knife is blunt, it still continues to be a knife, although it is less effective, less useful in service. Let us therefore be encouraged to spend more time together ~ encouraging, praying, sharing God’s Word.

Yes, iron sharpens iron.

Let us lift each other up, let us encourage one another, let us help each other to honor Christ in our day-to-day lives.  Let us sharpen each other and hold each other accountable to the One who we call our Savior.  Let us continue to shine and not become dull and continue to love each other enough to keep our focus and action on the Almighty.

Yes, iron sharpens iron - and I am personally thankful that there are those around me that will keep me sharp, shining, and living to please the Lord. 
May we all have the courage to go forward and keep each other sharp in the eyes of the Lord. Have a blessed week ahead.

Experiencing His Grace in the Journey ~