What Are You Talking About And With Whom?

 "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." - Proverbs 27:17

I first became aware of that verse in 1993 at a Promise Keeper's conference in Boulder, CO.  It was in the context of the importance of having meaningful relationships with other Christians. So many Christians live like spiritual monks or hermits. They are isolated from other Christians Monday through Saturday and then spend one or two hours on Sunday morning - breathing the same air with other Christians but not getting much past the "Hi how are you" "I'm fine!" grip and grin. 

For men and women to be spiritually healthy there must be more to our relationships with other Christians than that. But - at the same time - many of us don't give God much more time than that do we? That is not a criticism - though it may feel like it - if so, sorry. What I am attempting to do is to raise an awareness that if you have isolated yourself - it is a spiritually dangerous place to be. I recall a story about Chuck Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship International. He was President Richard M. Nixon's White House counsel and hatchet man, and served time in a federal prison camp for a Watergate-related crime. As a new Christian, Chuck Colson voluntarily pled guilty to obstruction of justice in 1974 and served seven months in Alabama’s Maxwell Prison for his part in the Watergate scandal. He said, “I found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that God had put me in prison for a purpose and that I should do something for those I had left behind.” But I digress. 

As the story goes, Chuck was talking to a man who said he didn't need other Christians - he just needed Jesus. Chuck walked over to his fireplace and pulled on ember out the blazing fire. He just stared at the single ember until the ember went dark. He looked at his friend and said, "and that is what happens to Christians who convince themselves that they don't need other Christians in their lives." It is all about the One-Anothers!

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

"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." - Colossians 3:16

"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

"pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." - James 5:16

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" - 1 Peter 3:8

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." - 1 Peter 4:10

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone