ARE YOU SHARPENING OTHERS?

Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

 I want to begin by simply saying, "Thank you for your friendship."  Each one of you uniquely impacts my life and makes me a better person.  For this I am grateful.   Friendship is something special and to be valued.  We really don't have many true friends.  Scripture speaks about the value of friendship when it says, "A friend loves at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17)  and again, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)  My two closest friends are; first, the Lord Jesus, then, my sweet wife.  After that, my family and my church family, and a select number of preachers are my closest friends.  I haven't gone outside the realm of the church to find and make friends.  I go outside the church to find those who need Jesus as their Saviour, but my friendships are found in the realm of the church.  

 I pray that somehow, as iron sharpens iron, I have done something to sharpen (make keen and alert) your life for the better.

 Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

 Meditations

1.  How does Biblical friendship pattern its love after the love of Christ?

2.  Where have you found your friends?  Is this healthy or unhealthy to your spiritual growth and wellbeing?

3.  What is the formula for having friends according to Proverbs 18:24?  What could you do to show yourself friendly to those who are new to your church?