have you ever really thought about that phrase? i always hear it, say it, read it - "as iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend" {proverbs 27:17} but i can honestly say that i've never really really thought about it. i mean, after some quality coffee time with one of my godly girlfriends, i always think "yeah! as iron sharpens iron - that person sharpens me!" and i'm not saying that's not part of it, but i think the word sharpen implies a little more than that.
can you picture a rough piece of iron, scraping/shaping/filing/grinding another piece of iron? ouch. that can't feel great, in fact, i think it's safe to say that has to hurt. but what's the end result? a smooth, pointed piece of metal - fit for one's use.
recently, a close friend of mine challenged me. it hurt a little initially; it's hard to listen to someone call you out on something, even if it's done in love... but it was exactly what i needed to hear. now i can't stop thinking about it, and how thankful i am for her - a friend that loves and cares about me enough to not allow me to become complacent and comfortable... sharpening me so that i can be fit for One's use - God's use.
{btw - i know the photos are cheesy but they're the best that google had to offer... and i just had to give you an illustration} :)
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