by David Brenneman
“Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Many, in this world, while children have played a game amongst themselves called "swords". Take something like a big enough stick and you swing it around, preferably outside, against imaginary foes. Maybe reenacting some scenes from a television show or a movie.
But the true reality is that swinging motion really produces not much in the way of benefit. Should you have someone with another and these 'swords' contact each other then you now have something.
People who've come to Christ yet stay away from others in Christ are like the first child. You have no one to "spur you on into love and good deeds" as the Scriptures say. You have no one to challenge you...as this "iron sharpening iron" passage is about. You don't have the growing in Christ that's to be central to living life until the Rapture of the Church or we're taken home to be with Jesus.
The Scriptures call God's Word "the Sword of the Spirit". There's nothing unprofitable about the Word of God. There's everything to be gained by studying God's Word. There's everything to be gained by making it part of your daily life.
We can be grand wasters of time, energy and effort in living life.
We just don't recognize that that's what we are doing.
We likewise don't realize we're agreeing with Scripture that that's what we are doing.
When the Scriptures teach us what is a particular behavior or activity that's sin...then my Dear Reader...that's what it is...end of discussion. That's why the Word of God is fully authoritative.
As a phrase from the 70's and 80's said "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!". But do we really agree with this? Are we putting as much importance on the Word of God that we ought to be doing?
Are we challenged by others in Christ with the Word of God?
Since that is the defacto standard for learning in Christ, then that is what's to be utilized.
Part of our problem is we either know or are in denial of knowing.
We're oftentimes afraid of challenging others in Christ towards love and good deeds. We're afraid of challenging others to see what acts they engage in that are in fact sins.
When we see this verse of iron sharpening iron there ought to be the expectation of sparks flying. There ought to be the expectation of physical and spiritual exertion. Maybe even sweat and thirst.
We ought to expect some level of embarrassment for the exposure of sins. Should expect a need to repent.
The way this passage is written its an ongoing activity...an expected action.
This rules out the 'lone wolf' mentality of living the Christian life.
You need brothers and sisters in Christ to challenge you to do better, to be more, to let your light shine before men in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
A challenge we received this last Sunday was to ask who is on the throne of our hearts.
We must be both accepting of this challenge and take ownership of the results that follow.
Some may say that I speak too much against sports. However, consider the challenge that the NFL put out there themselves. "Sundays used to belong to the Church, now it belongs to us."
A challenge to find out if this is an area that's where anyone has something like sports on the throne of their hearts is to take a month and cut yourself off of all information of it. No podcasts, no scoreboards, no video clips, no video games on it, no news reports, no games to watch or be at.
How painful would that be? A true challenge would also complete itself in that you replace such things with being in the Word of God and prayer.
You can replace sports in the previous example with anything or truly anyone.
But the message of today is that we need each other to challenge us in the Lord to become who He's meant for us to be. As Paul wrote to remove every encumbrance...get rid of all that is hindering our efforts in growing in Christ.
My mind has countless useless bits of information and it's taken me decades to realize how much time I have spent on fruitless things when I should have been investing in my walk with Jesus.
You need to take up the challenge today. Between you and Jesus, be asking Him David's question. See if there be any hurtful, wicked, way in me...show me...help me turn away from these fruitless things to the life in Christ that I am meant to live.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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