so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
I love this verse. It is a wonderful thing to realize that I can sharpen others - at other times, I am the one who needs to be sharpened. It’s truly beautiful when two mature brothers or sisters can sharpen each other.
It is also important to understand that when I am sharpened to a gleaming razor edge, it is not so I can be simply on display over the mantle. Rather, I should rush into the battle to fight for my King!
After fighting many battles, my edge becomes dull. This is when I must return to the Stronghold, to be sharpened once again. If I find there are no brothers or sisters that can sharpen me, I know I can always go to the Mighty Rock - my King - to be sharpened. His Word is sharper than a double-edged sword, and is also the strong Stone that will sharpen me and prepare me for battle!
As a husband and father I am meant to sharpen those younger and/or weaker than myself - this means I must constantly strive to be stronger and sharper myself. The stronger and sharper I get the more I need to make myself available to sharpen my family as well as others, making myself their ‘whetstone’. To do this, it means I must be able withstand the scraping and abrasion that it may sometimes take to sharpen them.
It’s important to remember that a blade can only become as sharp as the stone will allow - so the sharpest blades require the strongest Stone! Our freshly sharpened blades must in turn strengthen those around us.
Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed. (Psalm 112:1-2)
#LoveMatters