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Ladies Daily Devotional
4-7-08
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.
OBC LADIES 4-07-08 IRON SHARPENS IRON
By Denise Chaffin
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
Before iron revolutionized the world, bronze was the metal of choice for tools, weapons and armour. But it's expense made it available only to kings and wealthy professionals such as warriors. The common people used clumsier bone and stone tools. About 1000 B.C., the widespread introduction of iron changed the lives of everyday people, making tools of this strong and inexpensive metal available to many more people. This short explanation helps us see how this illustration would have been easily understood by those who first heard it centuries ago.
Just as iron was used to sharpen iron, so true friends will sharpen the outlook of one another in the spiritual realm. A friend who truly cares for us will help by honestly pointing out our faults or weaknesses. One who is concerned for our spiritual view will risk hurting our feelings to gently but honestly point out the sin in our life. If she sees us turning from the truth or heading in a direction that leads us away from godliness, she is willing to lovingly offer godly, scriptural counsel that sends us back in the right direction.
We know that, in the physical world, the process of sharpening a metal object is not without some pressure and effort. There will be friction, heat and maybe even a few sparks as the craftsman lovingly fashions the metal to acheive the desired result.
So God uses our family in Christ to fashion us into his intended purpose. Ephesians 2:10 reads, " For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (KJV)
So, we, as the body of Christ, should recognize and welcome the honesty of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. In these sometimes painful times, though momentarily so, God uses others to sharpen our spiritual focus and keep us on the straight and narrow road to heaven.
Earlier in Proverbs 27 are two more verses which shed light on this relationship within the body of Christ. First, let us look at verse 5: " Open rebuke is better than secret love." (KJV) We, in this society today, are being pushed and proded into tolerance of many things, some benign but many things sinful. When we take the attitude that it's okay for someone to live anyway they want as long as they are happy and we just accept that, we accept a very ungodly attitude. But I also see this slipping into the church. The attitude that all conflict is bad and the acceptance of sinful behavior is becoming more and more prevalent. Paul wrote to the young man Titus over and over to rebuke, to admonish, to even 'rebuke sharply' those who lived other than the godly lives God intended for us as followers of Christ.
I have had some blunt friends in my life. They are the ones I miss the most, because I knew they would not put up with behavior that was not in accordance with scripture. Some were more tactful than others, but all loved me enough to tell the truth.
Verse 6 is just as forward, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (KJV) The true friend will occasionally wound our hearts with sharp but honest assessment of our living or words, but the kisses of our enemies are always ready to cover the true intentions of their hearts. That is always hard to accept, when we are betrayed by someone we considered a friend. The unkept confidence, the gossip, the lies of those we thought we could trust hurts far more. But worse even than these is the sin of silence on the part of those who should be encouraging us to fight the good fight and endure until the end.
May we learn to be true and honest friends, sisters in Christ who, through kindness, teach and admonish our sisters, encouraging each other along the way. May we sharpen one another in this old world until we focus, as mature disciples, on the heavenly goal.
In parting, read Ephesians 4:15 and 16 with me, "But speaking the truth in love, (we) may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (KJV)
Questions:
1) "Iron sharpeneth ___________, so man ____________ the countenance of his __________." Proverbs 27:17
2) What physical changes take place when iron is used to sharpen iron?
3) In the spiritual realm, what momentary discomfort may result from our friends sharpening our outlook?
4) Does it mean that our friend does not love us because we experience this discomfort?
5) Find two verses in Proverbs 27 that describe this unique friendship.
6) How does the world define friendship and should we accept that definition?
7) Who is it that is really molding us, our Christian friends or God? Can you use a verse from NT scripture to illustrate this?
8) Describe the attributes of a true friend. Can you name Christian women whom you consider to fit this description in your life?
9) Ask yourself if you are being a true friend to your sisters. Privately note those whom you have avoided telling the truth for fear of hurting their feelings.
10) Take time this week to memorize and meditate on Ephesians 4:15.
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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