We get dull

The truth "As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17) is one I have meditated on a lot lately.  Now don't get lofty ideas of what I mean by meditation; what I mean is I thought and prayed about this truth while in the grocery store and sitting at stoplights. I found myself rolling this verse over in my head and heart as I changed diapers.  I felt really thankful for old friends, new friends, close friends and acquaintances who have been "iron" in my life.  I don't know about you but if I really pay attention, I notice themes in my life.  This was one for me.   

This truth had previously become just a trite saying to me, a truth I learned early on as a believer in Jesus.  Whenever I heard or thought about this verse, I had a simplistic attitude towards it:  "Oh yeah, we need fellowship." Then I could quickly speak to the idea that just like knives get dull and need re-sharpening, so do followers of Christ. 

But I had never clung to it.  Never had the thought "Oh man, this is TRUE."

I don't know what it is though--feeling more forgetful because of having two babies or feeling more humbled because I thought I'd be "further along" by now, but this past fall I have embraced this verse with a new fervor. 

I realized I have this idea about life that I am going to get constantly better and know more--maybe it is being perfectionistic or maybe it is just human nature to have that idea.  Either way, I tend to feel like I "should" be getting better and often I believe that I am the only one who isn't.  Life is about constant improvement--steps forward, not steps back.  Especially as a Christ-follower, I think that if I am truly following Christ then as I get older my patience, kindness, forgiveness, and contentment will only grow.

I have moments where I feel like this is true.  I am becoming better.  I think it is good to celebrate that.  I sure hope so!  I want to feel like God is making a difference in me and I do feel like He has.  

But I have a lot of other moments like when I sharply snap at my daughter (Think: bad tone for no good reason with the immediate thought of "Did anyone hear that?") or times where I only focus on the negative instead of the positive with my husband or times when I see someone's else's life and instead of being happy for them, I am jealous and start comparing my life to theirs, trying to "win."  These attitudes and thoughts are nearer than I wish. If I catch myself, I think, "UGH who are you?"  Just yesterday I was so patient and loving and now I am fill in the blank.  

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17
Then I go somewhere where people gather around God's word and talk.  It might be at a coffee shop with a friend.  It might be at a Bible Study.  It might be at Sunday School.  The Bible might be physically open or it might just be that God's truth is woven throughout our conversation.  It might be structured or it might not. 

In these moments I find my heart come alive, I sigh and I think, "Man, did I need this."  I lose my way so quickly, but this pointed my eyes back to being fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1).  Deuteronomy 6:12 says, "Watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord"...More than anything, times like that remind me that I need Jesus.  I see that I need to "watch myself!"  We need him more often and more deeply than we know.  My "dull-ness" doesn't need to be sharp so I can be a "better me"  but so I can be more attentive to His Spirit in me.  Gathering with others with an attentiveness to God's word aids us in fanning His Spirit into flame in us (2 Timothy 1:6).  It just does.     

And the thing is, I am going to need a time like that again.  Soon. 

Without getting close enough to people that you are rubbing shoulders (remember, iron touches iron in order to sharpen), we risk that a brief losing of our way might lead to being permanently lost.  I am coming to see that this is nearer than I would have ever thought.    

One final thought. 

Just this past week I was with some preschoolers at church talking about the truth that "Jesus loves everyone."  We suggested they go home and tell their brothers/sisters/moms/dads that Jesus loved them.  One little boy said, "My brother will tell me he already knows that."  I looked at him and said, "Well, just tell him you didn't want him to forget." 

This wasn't a terribly enlightening thought, but you know how something that comes out of your own mouth becomes something you then can't stop thinking about?  That happened.

The next day, I read this verse, "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them (2 Peter 1:12)." 

This whole idea of needing other Christians is something I know.  Probably you too. 
Much of scripture is not brand new to me.   

But if you are like me, I forget the truth I know.  I forget Jesus.  I need reminding.  God's Spirit in me needs constant awakening.  I need others to help me. 

Or I get dull.