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Daily Devotion: Proverbs 27:17

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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.

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