Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
There is a popular idiom that says, “He’s lost his edge.” What is meant is that someone was once the best and has diminished in some way. This can happen to anyone. I suspect it has been happening as long as people have dwelt on the earth.
As Solomon spoke the proverb that we see in our text today, I imagine he had observed the same thing. Sometimes, men can fall a step behind in life. They grow comfortable, complacent, apathetic, or dull. No one sets out to be that way, but life has a way of slowly but surely dulling the fine edge that we are meant to have.
This is true in athletics, in business, in relationships, and, yes, in spiritual matters as well. Therefore, sharpening is required if we are to hold our edge. Notice that it is not circumstance of life that are used to sharpen us, but other men. People help people remain sharp. Isolation permits us to dull, but regular interaction promotes a razor-sharp edge.
This kind of sharpening requires time. It involves friction. It demands intentionality. I think that the Lord intended for church community to be a laboratory of sharpening. He expected that when people came together, there would be encouragement, accountability, confrontation, and consolation. What’s true is we were intended to be sharp, and isolation makes us dull.
If you feel like you’re losing your edge, check your commitment to community. If it is lacking, the solution is clear. If you examine your blade and you are sharp, consider who in your circle is growing dull. Drawn near to them and ask God to allow you to be the sharpening stone in their lives. As you do, you both win. As iron sharpens iron, so ONE MAN sharpens ANOTHER.
“But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.” Luke 15:32, NASB95
A parable is a heavenly story with an earthly application. In other words, the story brings attention to and clarity on a truth that is difficult to fully grasp in other ways. Jesus often taught in parables which is a testimony in itself of their effectiveness.
I think that Luke 15 is one parable with several moving parts. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the two lost sons all serve to point to a single truth: God loves reconciling lost things. The main actor in the parable is the Father as he is depicted in the searching shepherd, the seeking woman, and the Father who waits, welcomes, and rejoices.
The chapter ends with an audacious claim: All of heaven rejoices with the lost is found! Now the centerpiece of heaven is God Himself. Everything exists to His praise. Honor, and glory. So, the picture of a celebrating God over the lost being found is spot on!
Picture, if you will, the Father leaping to His feet and shouting “welcome home” over the deafening applause of every creature in heaven—every time a lost son returns home, a sinning daughter repents, and a wayward Pharisee turns toward grace. Heaven erupts with joy and celebration when the rebel is reconciled, when the enslaved is set free, when the lost is found, and when the wicked are redeemed.
The point of the Lord’s parable of the Father is to remind us that we truly speak God’s “love language” (if you will allow me one more comparison) when we seek out the lost and gather them in to the family.
Question: Is blessing the Lord in this way your priority for living? Is it your highest ethic of worship? Is it your missional focus every morning? Is it your commitment every day? If not, you can start over, today.
“Do not fear, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:32, NASB
We are an anxious people. One thing that the recent pandemic has made clear is the rise of anxiety. Across all ages and stages of life, the circumstances of the day bring to light the fact that an ever-increasing number of people struggle with a lack of insight and a lack of control.
This is not really unique to us in our generation. In reality, people from the past also struggled with the lack of control they had in the world. Further, we are never told to think otherwise! We are never told to rely on our control or to get better control of the world around us; rather; we are told to place our confidence in the One who never lost control of anything!
Notice in this verse (which is a favorite of mine) a couple of key truths which bring me a great deal of comfort.
First, we are told to “fear not” or “do not fear.” God never instructs us to do the impossible; so, we discern here that it is possible to live without fear or anxiousness.
Second, we are reminded of our relationship. He is our “Father,” and we are His flock. Both of these powerful images remind us to trust our Shepherd King and our Father who guards and protects us. We are led to green pastures and still waters. Further, we are never abandoned in the in the dark valleys of the shadow of death.
Third, The Father has already chosen that our inheritance is the Kingdom. We cannot earn it; therefore, we cannot lose it. It is wholly His and therefore it is assuredly ours.
Finally, the Father does not do this begrudgingly, but gladly. He wants to give us the Kingdom. He wants to provide for us. He wants to care for us. He wants us to rely on Him.
As a child, I learned to sing “He’s got the whole world…in His hands.” We can still trust in the truths of this song today. He does control it all and He desires to provide all we need from His own abundance.
13And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.15“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Mark 10:13–16 (NASB95)
This text, in my opinion, is one of the most significant teachings of Mark’s Gospel. In Mark 10:13-16 we find families bringing children to Jesus. The crowds (I imagine) must have been overwhelming. The disciples, being dutiful and godly men, were trying to prioritize Jesus’ time and ministry obligations. They went as far as to turn back the children (v.13), presumably because there were more important things for Jesus to be doing.
“Permit the children to come to Me,” Jesus replied. He then embraced and blessed the children declaring that the Kingdom of God belonged to such as these.
The disciples had a set of priorities. Jesus’ priorities were different. The Disciples had schedules. Jesus had different ideas. The disciples had a perspective of importance and Jesus had different ideas.
We can all use some reflection on the principles in these verses. There are times when God brings opportunities (the children coming) and we can miss them because we had other things in mind. What might we be “missing” by trying to conform Jesus to our agenda rather than embracing His?
This devotional originally appeared in the e-connect series at Englewood Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC
17For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; . . . 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb. Mark 6:17–19, 27-29 (NASB95)
As I was reading this passage recently, my heart was stirred.
It is popular in many circles to think that when we walk in the will of God, we will be happy, healthy, and wealthy. Some conclude that if we experience difficulties, challenges, or tragedies, it must be related to our unfaithfulness toward God. In this type of understand, God is a giant ATM machine. If you put in the right card and the right pin number, you will get the proceeds you desire.
Yet, (as we see in this text) John the baptizer was certainly living out the will of God. He was imprisoned because he dared to confront the wicked life choices of Herodias and Herod. John’s actions required boldness and an undying commitment to his calling. As if prison weren’t enough, John is murdered in prison to appease the “grudge” that Herodias held against him (v.19). It was John’s faithful pursuit of the will of God that landed him in the circumstances of his humanly demise.
I think, at times, we do ourselves a disservice and blunt the sharp edge of dynamic faith in a powerful gospel when we draw a line from our faithfulness to earthly blessings. The world doesn’t need a god who gives you a car when you go to church four weeks in a row. They can just go buy a car. The world is not impressed with a faith that gives you “health” if you pray every day. Our world quietly desires the brilliance of a faith that looks beyond temporal amusements and proclaims God’s glory even in the midst of sickness, disease, discouraging cultural events and trials untold. Friends, the world in which we live needs to know of a God so good, so powerful, so capable, so involved that regardless of our circumstances, we would agree with Job and declare, “Though He slay yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15).”
If you’re struggling or suffering, do not fall into the trap that declares that this must result from either your sin from the weakness of an impotent or unconcerned God. You may, in fact, be suffering as a testimony of faith that others desperately need to see.
As I was reading this passage recently, I tried to think of how many courses I have taken on the “end times.” I think between undergraduate and seminary courses, I have had at least four different classes dedicated to the subject. What I have learned from all of these hours…is that I really don’t know what is going to happen in the “end times.” What I do know is that the church is taken up out of this world, it gets very scary on earth, and then Jesus comes back to make it right. In fact, that is what he says in our reading:
19“For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20“Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days…26“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:19-20, 26 (NASB95)
Now here is how the Lord applied this in my heart.
Things in this world are not easy. In fact, they are really, really difficult.
Even in the midst of the darkest days, God graciously controls the darkness so that it is not completely overwhelming.
No matter how difficult things get, the darkness doesn’t get the last word.
That’s right! As a way of comforting his followers as they considered the darkness, He reminded them that He was coming soon.
As you and I look about the world today, let’s remember, Jesus is coming soon. He is not unaware or unconcerned about our plight. He is not only aware and concerned but He is powerful to do something about the darkness. Further, He is not only aware, concerned and powerful, but He is coming again to make it right.
Be encouraged church…and on the days that seem overwhelming, look to the sky and get ready. He’s coming soon.
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