For November 14th:

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

             God calls us to sharpen each other. In order to sharpen a blade on a knife you have to rub it up against two surfaces that are usually not very smooth and extremely hard. How uncomfortable!? That is what God calls us to do; to rub up against other people that are sometimes very hard and rough only for the purpose of growing and becoming "sharp." Not only is God instructing us to push ourselves, but I also believe that he uses this to prepare us for his work.           

Solomon chose to compare our "sharpening" to that of iron. Now, let's think about iron. Iron is no dainty metal. I have my own dainty hammer because it’s pretty and has four different sized screws in it. However, it is not made for heavy duty work. It's dainty. Iron is a very aggressive metal, on the other hand. It is used in most heavy machinery! Not only is iron used for a purpose, but it is also very strong and durable.

             So, iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another. We sharpen each other spiritually. This sharpening of each other happens so that we are able to be used for God's purpose on a regular basis. So, be thankful for those who surround you and challenge you spiritually. Pray for them and be encouraged by their presence in your life.

Addie McCallie