Croley’s Corner @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Hebrews 10:24

Welcome to Coffee hour today. Pull up a chair, your favorite beverage, your journal and let’s get started.

How often have you gone into your knife drawer or even your knife holder and found that your knife isn’t doing the job it was designed to do? We certainly know for a good knife to work properly we need to keep it sharp, and the best way to sharpen it is to use a whetstone or water stone.

Proverbs 27:17 instructs us “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”

What lessons can we draw from this proverb? How important it is to keep iron sharpened and the reason for the sharpening. How can we sharpen our friends just like iron sharpens iron?

This verse must be pretty important to be found in God’s Word and for King Solomon to bring out such truths for us so let’s talk a bit about that today.

For some that understand the process of sharpening iron you usually use a whetstone, which is an abrasive stone in sharpening knives or other sharp-edged tools, and it is the instrument of choice. The point Solomon is making is two people, having the same nature, both iron, can sharpen each other’s mind, help each other to grow and be in tune to the things that are going on around them. And, yes, they can even help each other to move in the right direction, to stay on track, to walk away from sin and towards God. And even if sparks do fly, if both sides are open to the truth, those sparks will not be deadly but will result in each instrument, each person, becoming sharper in the Lord and their walk with Him. 

As iron is sharpened by its like, especially by the file we are filing with, it will be made smooth, and positive, and fit for corporate gathering and with pleasing conversation together.

God’s intentions to us are this practical act of sharpening ourselves, but with "caution" to take heed whom we choose to converse with because their influence upon us is so great and can be used either for the better or for the worse. To direct us that we would have in our eye, a sense of discernment in our conversation, namely to improve both others and ourselves; not to pass away time or banter one another, but to provoke one another to love and to good works and so to make one another wiser and better. Hebrews 10:24

A dull knife is a cook's worst enemy, and easily the most dangerous tool you can have in your possession. If we become dull, our ability to be effective to others is lessened. There are many ways we can sharpen our friends, but I consider encouragement to be the most important tool. King Solomon had this to say about encouragement in Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.”

So go, sharpen yourselves with His Word and make it a great and powerful weekend! And remember to keep Him close to your heart!

Love, Deb