Like Knives, Dull Saints Need Sharpening

Welcome Back to GBFC's Daily Devotionals. A season of encouraging began earlier this week and we want you to take some time and read God's Word and today's Devotional to be encourage by today's writer, Dea. McNeal Brockington!

Such a short, yet loaded proverb to speak of kinship, process, accountability, responsibility, reciprocity, trajectory, capacity, intentionality, persuasion, testing, sanctification, and dutiful anticipation in one breath...Wow!

It speaks to the inherent strength of iron, as likened to the strength of the saint, responsive to the redemptive phrase, the gospel, offered once upon a time, and carried forward by the grace of God. As iron sharpens iron, so ought one soul sharpen another!

When iron meets iron within the testing of heat, and friction, the best is brought forth, for a purposeful existence. Each 'iron', not perfectly the same, meets with a similar, a fellow sojourner, discovering self and Him within the test, both being held and guided by the One greater. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133:1

The partnership means much, and is purposeful for eternity-present, and eternity-yet. Be it hammer to blade, or blade to blade, both as 'iron' matter in the Handler's grasp. And what a shine that sharpening brings!  "Iron sharpens iron, as a man 'sharpens' his friend's face."  Through the transformative impact, beyond the testing, the face or countenance, that which is most public and expressive, is given privilege and power to relay what the sum has become. Hereof, truth appreciated is then expressed... and it is righteous and compassionate, an outcome borne of relationship. The Author is God... and what a Friend we have in Jesus! "When two, or more, are gathered together in My name, there will I be in their midst." Matthew 18:20

Jesus. Other. You. Come together, in Christ. He is the resurrection and the life. Receive it, and let your living speak it. Embrace your glorious appointment which God calls 'eternal'.  But for now, 'Sharpen the edge'. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

PRAYER:  Dearest Lord, I pray Thee, raise my understanding, with my courage, to stand upon such day by day... that my living brings clarity through and beyond words, for the presence of Your living Word as perfect counsel. Then, sharpen me, Lord. May my soul drink of Your Faithfulness, that my journeying in kind, becomes more and more faithful...sharpened. Blessings to You, precious Lord. Majestic is Your Name. Hallelujah and Amen.
By Dea. McNeal Brockington