TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

Iron Sharpens Iron
By Glynnis Whitwer

Proverbs 27:17, "You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another." (MSG)

Devotion:
Every cook knows a dull knife can be more dangerous than a sharp one. Although it seems contradictory, a dull-edged blade can actually do more damage to the cook, than the food!

That's because when a blade is dull, it's harder to use. Not only does it take more force to actually cut something, but also it's harder to control. That's why a dull blade can slice a finger quicker than a tomato, and why chefs spend hundreds on a great knife.

Every knife becomes dull with use. The sharp edge rounds out, and little chips develop. Cutting will render a blade ineffective, and on its own, it will never become sharp again. That's the first truth about sharpening iron: a knife cannot sharpen itself. Nor can something weaker than iron, sharpen iron.

Proverbs 27:17 uses a practical truth about sharpening iron, to teach a spiritual truth about our relationships with others: "You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another" (Msg).

We've all had the experience of friends who inspire us to be better than we are, and friends who don't. A godly Christian friend can sharpen you in areas they are strong. For example, a wise friend can make you wiser. A loving friend can expand your capacity to love. A biblically knowledgeable friend can enhance your understanding of Scripture. Proverbs 13:20 says, " He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."

When we think of sharpening a blade, or sharpening ourselves, it's always done for a purpose. A chef doesn't sharpen his or her knife so it looks better lying on the kitchen counter. Sharpening is done to make it more effective and efficient. If we sharpen a knife for years and never put it into use, it will eventually be sharpened down to nothing, with nothing to show for all that honing.

This is just like Christians. We are to be sharpened, and to sharpen others, in order to advance the Kingdom of God. Whether we are talking about a knife, a sword or ourselves, sharpening isn't done for a passive activity. A blade is sharpened to accomplish a purpose. One reason Christians need sharpening is to be effective in the spiritual battle against sin surrounding us. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Growing as a Christian is important. Choosing friends who will sharpen us is one practical way we can grow. God designed us to need each other for fellowship, and for advancing His kingdom here on earth.

Dear Lord, You are the source of all strength and goodness. Thank you for helping me to grow in faith and also for putting friends in my life who can help sharpen me. Help me to use that sharpening to advance Your Kingdom here on earth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

* Adapted from Six Habits of Highly Effective Christians (Copyright 2007 by Ampelon Publishing).

Related Resources:
Six Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Glynnis Whitwer and Brian T. Anderson

Worship: Nearing the Heart of God by Glynnis Whitwer and Brian T. Anderson

P31 Woman Magazine

Application Steps:
Identify one friend who has helped "sharpen" you the most in the past year. Commit to spending more time with this friend in the coming year.

Reflections:
Read Proverbs 27:17. For what purpose is iron sharpened?

How can Christians "sharpen" each other?

What are some ways friends can "dull" our spiritual effectiveness?

What are some characteristics you need to develop and strengthen in your life?

Identify several friends who can help you "sharpen" these characteristics.

Power Verses:
1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." (NIV)

Proverbs 27:6, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:14, "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." (NIV)

Galatians 6:1-2, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (NIV)

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”--Genesis 1:28

I believe the human mind is one of the most incredible parts of God’s handiwork in creation. The animals have a certain level of mental capacity, but none can compare to human beings. The difference is clearly stated in the first chapter of Genesis.
God gave humans dominion and power over all the animals of the earth. There are some animals we call smart, but they can only be trained, they don’t necessarily learn. Being taught an idea or a concept is unique to human beings because God gave us a unique mind that gives us self-consciousness and God-consciousness.
God gave us the ability to think and be creative. We can play beautiful music, write a great story, paint a picture, and build a magnificent skyscraper. God does give animals many internal instincts, such as a beaver’s ability to build a dam, and a bird’s ability to build a nest. But animals don’t have the desire for growth and learning.
What’s even more amazing to me about the human mind is that we are told we only use about 10% of our brain capacity. Think of the potential God has given us to think and act and respond to Him. What a challenge to us to maximize the mind God has given us.
Your hopes, joys, and desires are all things God has given you the ability to develop and pursue. Do you have a dream or a goal that you believe is from the Lord, and will glorify Him? Go for it with all that you have!

MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL TO THINK, RESPOND, AND LIVE FOR GOD.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
--2 Corinthians 4:6

Genesis 1 tells us that at the beginning of the creation, the earth was without form and void of any light. I believe that this statement is also a perfect description of a person who is without Christ.
The great king Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest person who ever lived, would agree that life without God is empty, futile, and constantly enveloped in darkness. Solomon explains in the book of Ecclesiastes how he tried to fill his life with money, pleasure, sex, and even work. But nothing brought fulfillment. And Solomon came to the conclusion that any pursuit without God is worthless???or in the words of Genesis 1, dark and formless.
Why? Because God created us with souls that are designed with a need for their Creator. Every person feels this need, but many people try to fill it with earthly pleasures that ultimately fail. The inescapable truth is that our lives are empty and dark without the loving light of Jesus Christ to shine in and take control.
But when Christ takes over a soul, that person becomes a new creation! That isn’t figurative language; we really become different people.
Here’s what I hope you will do today in light of this truth: Help shine the light of Christ into someone’s life. There are people all around you who are living dark, formless lives without Christ. Do a friend or co-worker a huge favor by sharing the exciting news that Christ can fill the void in their soul.

EVERY PERSON HAS A GOD-SHAPED HOLE IN THEIR HEART. DO SOMEONE A FAVOR TODAY AND TELL THEM HOW CHRIST CAN FILL IT.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds???livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.”
--Genesis 1:24

Why should we reject evolutionary ideas? Besides the fact that they are unproven scientifically, the bigger problem is that evolution takes God out of the picture and turns this world into a pointless and random universe. It’s important not only to reject evolution, but to know why we should reject evolution.
We should reject it first for logical reasons. It takes more faith and stretching of the mind to believe the absurdity that life spontaneously began than it does to believe that a powerful and purposeful God created it. The order and complexity we see in creation argues for a Creator.
We should also reject evolutionary theory for moral reasons. If we deny that we are created by a God who made us in His image, then human life has no ultimate value. We’re just animals without a purpose. This is the view of life that Communism thrived on, and we can see what happens when God is removed from people’s thinking and life means nothing more than the survival of the fittest and strongest. People deny God so they can carry out their evil plans, or so they won’t feel guilty about their sins and pleasure-seeking. Taking God out of the creation leads to moral decline and ruin.
Most important of all, we should reject evolution in all its forms for biblical reasons. The Bible clearly states that we are created by God, which makes evolution contrary to what God’s Word teaches. That should be reason enough for believers.
As Christians, our faith is built upon God being who He says He is. You were created by God’s loving hand, which means you are of infinite value to Him. Let that truth give new meaning and purpose to everything you do today.

YOU ARE NOT THE PRODUCT OF RANDOM EVOLUTIONARY FORCES! EVERYTHING YOU ARE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO MATTERS TO GOD.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
--Genesis 1:26

There is one large question that looms over the creation story: Why? Why did God create the material world, and create us in His own image? He had to make a decision to spend six days creating all of this, so what was His reasoning?
I think that first and foremost, God created us for His pleasure. It pleases Him to have a relationship with us. It’s not that God was lonely. He has hosts of angels worshiping Him. And He is self-sufficient, so we don’t give Him anything He lacks. But God delights in having a relationship with us.
I also believe that God made everything for His praise. The Bible states in many different passages that all of creation praises Him. Every man, woman, and creature praises God either here on earth or eventually in His presence at the gates of heaven.
Besides His pleasure and His praise, God also made us for a specific purpose. The Bible says in Romans 8:28-29 that we were created and redeemed so that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
I want you to keep this in mind today as you go about the activities of the day. Remember that the God of the universe desired so much to have a relationship with you that He created you to be like His own Son! Thank God today that you are known and loved by Him.

YOU WERE CREATED FOR THE PLEASURE AND PRAISE OF GOD, AND TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
--Genesis 1:27
I am often amused as I listen to scholars and scientists who talk about the evolutionary beginning of this world. They are debating a moot point, because they’re arguing about something God decided and finished centuries ago.
Our attitude toward the origin of the earth is essential to our attitude toward life. To a great degree, how we live our life is determined by what we believe about who we are and where we came from. In fact, our very understanding of God Himself is also at stake in this issue.
For instance, why would there need to be a God if we just evolved, are really just animals, and that everything happens purely by chance? If the entire universe is just a random set of events and a collection of beings with no purpose, then having a Creator is unnecessary.
But as Christians we believe that life is not random. We believe there is a personal God that is involved with His creation.
But here’s the real issue. Even though it’s important to know where we came from, it’s even more important to know where we are going! Our past is only a precursor to our future. We must know that we came from the hand of God, and that someday we will stand before Him!
Genesis 1 is a great week-long story of how God loves us and created us. Just make sure you not only know where you came from, but where you’re going. And share with others this week the good news that God loves them, and invite them to come to know Jesus as their Savior so someday they can stand before Him as His child.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM, BUT IT’S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING!