I was watching one of my favorite shows on the Food Network, Iron Chef. It is quite interesting to watch the best chefs in the world create culinary delights based off of one secret ingredient. Now, they have to use the best of cutlery (knives) to cut and dice to their liking. In order to stay on their "A" game, they have to continue to sharpen their skills as chefs. So it is as believers, we must do the same.
Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." God uses the interaction we have in godly friendship to help us grow in our spiritual lives. The word sharpen in this scripture comes from the Hebrew word "chadad" which means to "be sharp, alert, or keen." In order for us to be effective as believers in impacting each others lives is that we have to stay sharp in the word and in prayer. How is the world going to truly know God if we choose to remain dull in how we represent Him?
One of the ways I discovered that God keeps us sharp is through correction. It is human nature for us not to want to receive correction because it does not feel good to our flesh. But even God said that this is way He shows His love and to not be discouraged when He corrects us for our good.
"...My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuke by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:5-6
In other words, it is through correction that we can be sharpened in our thinking so that our lifestyle can purely reflect holiness. Your life should be a light that is so strong that it challenges those around you to see God in your life and cause them to look at their own lives differently. Here is the question I pose to my fellow believers, "is your life so razor sharp in God that it can cut between what is real and what is not? Or is it just as a dull as a butter knife with no kind of effect at all?
So with that being said, the sharper the knife, the better it is to use. Let's us be sure our lifestyle is so razor sharp that God can use us for his purpose and glory.
Blessings and love,
Elder Twanna House
(c) 2013 The Chronicles of a Strange Girl by Elder Twanna House
