Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
[17] As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Good Morning!
God’s desire for us is to have healthy relationships with not only Him, but also each other. The first is most important and we cannot have the latter without God being first.
As we yield to the wise counsel of God’s Word (The Bible), our relationship with Him grows deeper and deeper. Daily submission to His Word and letting the fruits of the Spirit be evident in our lives keeps us in step with The Spirit. As we do His will, God will put people in our lives to “sharpen our iron” as we sharpen theirs. God wants us to have people in our lives that we can share with, pray with, have fellowship with and invest in each other’s lives. This is so important! People need to feel like they belong somewhere. When we don’t have a sense of belonging somewhere, we sort of just feel lost, like a fish out of water.
Galatians 5:22-26 NIV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
[24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God did not call any of us to be “Lone Rangers,” but to have fellowship with one another. The more relationships we build with Godly men and women around us, the better. Take a simple lesson from fish. They swim in schools so that they can defend each other and outwit the enemy of larger prey trying to eat them. We too must cling together, warding off the enemy of our souls (satan), encouraging and supporting one another in love and good deeds. As we find our place of belonging, God will bless the relationships we build to be fruitful and multiply.
As Hebrews 10:25 says, the Day is approaching — meaning the day of the return of Our Lord. None of us know when it will be, but all of us need to be prepared each and every day. When we experience each day as people who encourage and build deeper relationships with others, we stand together stronger and not able to be broken by the enemy of our souls.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV
[13] But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV
[12] Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
So what is the lesson we learn from fish? We must seek out relationships and fellowship with others that are followers of Christ. Fish only swim in schools that are the same type of fish as them. The best place to start is a local church that teaches from The Bible. Here you will be swimming with other fish that are of like mind and can encourage you as you encourage them.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad