Scripture: Proverbs 27.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

It is so important that we make every effort to take focus away from self and try to help a brother, or a sister, without tearing them down. We get so much of that already from those at work, or those with personal agendas who despise seeing anyone else succeed at anything. How refreshing to think of someone who cares enough to tell you honestly and without malice, exactly what they are seeing you struggle with. Here’s what one commenter had to say about this short verse: “Mental sharpness comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought—people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.”

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Thank God for friends who will honestly tell me when I can do better, and praise me when they recognize that I have done my best! I pray that God will give me wisdom, and the unselfish desire to help others in their desire to walk in light of the gospel and for the glory of God. I pray for honesty in my evaluation and love in delivering my suggestions so that God would be glorified in the end result of any actions taken by His child. I pray that Christian friends will connect with each other in ways that would ‘sharpen’ each other with attitudes, skills, abilities, humbleness and love so that we might best represent Christ before a lost a dying world, all for the ultimate glory of our Father, God.

 

Note: Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
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