Lord, Help Us to Sharpen Iron with Iron

Today's Devotion, Lord, help us to sharpen iron with iron. We sometimes have to see someone else's situation before we stop complaining about ours. I have seen a friend walk away from something that they thought was bad only to experience a situation that was worse. There are times that we will have to do a self-assessment so that we can identify our weakness and ask God to help us to fix it so that it doesn't distract us and take us further from Him.

You cannot be someone who praises God during the good times and the bad times and worship with someone who is always murmuring and words of praise never seem to come from their mouth. You cannot sharpen iron with wood because only iron sharpens iron. We sharpen each other through words, not words of complaining, words of rejoicing and uplifting.

Sharpening iron with iron involves constructive criticism. Friends can provide honest feedback even when it is difficult to hear and accept. Sometimes the truth may be bitter but a lie may sound sweet.

Constructive criticism is not meant to tear you down, it is intended to build you up. Destructive criticism is the total opposite, it sometimes comes with insults and its aim is to tear you down and this is not God's intention. In Proverbs 26 verse 7 it is written, Like a useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, wisdom is rendered ineffective when it is spoken by someone who lacks understanding and lives a life contrary to that wisdom. In Proverbs 27 verse 17 it is written, Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. And in Proverbs 13 verse 20 it is written, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are in need of words of upliftment, especially when their faith is being tested. We call upon you, mighty God, to send the right person with the right words and the right attitude so that they don't end up on the wrong path. In Colossians 3 verse 16 it is written, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Help us, Lord, to develop the habit of looking out for each other, the same way that you have looked out for us.

All these we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.