Iron Sharpens Iron

Hi there! I’m a sucker for quotes and wise sayings. You’d be surprised how many are more along the lines of common sense than they are a discovery. One such quote is from Proverbs 27:17,

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

This verse reveals that just as iron is sharpened only by iron, so are we to be in fellowship with our Christian friends and family to not grow cold and dull. Since iron must be sharpened by iron, any other substance will not work and will make the iron not sharp. I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying about the bad apple in the bunch, and Scripture has lots to say about it too. In fact, Proverbs 13:20 says, "He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

And Psalm 26:5-6 says: “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocent: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:”

Those who walk with fools will become like their companions. Here are a few quotes I just love that relate to this:

In this verse, Proverbs not only calls us to find companions in whose presence we may grow but also to be the friend in which another may find comfort. 1 Peter 4:3-4 states it nicely. We are to have new testimonies in the way we conduct our lives not only to show whose daughter we are but to show others that:

(1) we are different

(2) that they can have the same thing.

That’s why Paul says we must keep our conversations — the way we act— pure. So that those who we knew prior to our change of citizenship can recognize a difference. The moment we go back to the blockheads of our past, the more our iron sword gets dull and our walk with Jesus gets cold.

Another fun little fact is this: just as iron is sharpened by iron, it changes form in the furnace. Accept trials when they come your way and rejoice because Jesus is cleansing your impurities. Daughter of the Most High King...live for your Father. We are princesses because we have a Father for a King. Hold your sword high and keep your crown steady. The war is beginning and those who we used to know are hungry for truth.

-Shelby,

Guest Blogger