Daily Devotion: Proverbs 27:17

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

I remember, growing up, having a whet rock in one of the kitchen drawers. When a knife became dull, that stone would be taken out and the knife edge rubbed back and forth, making it sharp. That stone was well worn from use.

Solomon tells us that our friends should make us sharper just as that stone makes the knife sharper. The book of Proverbs has much to say about seeking wise counsel. There is safety in true counsel of a friend. There is encouragement in the true counsel of a friend. There is direction to be found in the true counsel of a friend. Friendly wisdom shared with another makes us sharper in our own decision making and actions.

We are told from childhood to be careful in choosing our friends (acquaintances, companions). We saw back in chapter 18 that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. His name is Jesus, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace. His friendship sharpens us more than any other.

Daily Devotion: The Peace Of Christ - John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27 As I sit and enjoy the Lord's creation and I feel the cool breeze blow across my skin, I am reminded of the peace that we find when we stop to appreciate the works of God. While we cannot necessarily count on another tomorrow in this world, all of God’s children have the assurance of something purer, something brighter, in the world to come. This brings peace when everything seems chaotic and difficult here and now. Jesus Christ was and remains a complex Person. Not only do we have to wrestle with His dual nature, we must face the depth of His teachings. Many of the Lord’s teachings are easy to grasp even if they are hard to apply. (Have you tried loving your enemies lately?) However, some of the Messiah’s sayings make us think very hard indeed. Isaiah 9:6 famously reveals that the virgin born Son of God would be the Prin...

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top! It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions. Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

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