Every spring as I get ready to start working on the lawn, I do some service on my lawn mower, such as putting on a sharpened blade. I am always amazed at how dull the blade becomes after one season of cutting grass. I used to buy a new blade each year, but I found a great friend at Frazer UMC, Charles Wise, who could sharpen my old blade and paint it so it looks good and doesn’t rust. He loves working on tools and making things look like new. When I put that sharpened blade on my mower it cuts so much better, and it is able to perform the way it was intended to perform.
The Bible tells us that we need to keep our spirits sharp as well. We need to encourage one another and help each other to grow and become more mature in our faith. When we stray we need someone who will confront us and keep us on the right path. The writer of Proverbs shares, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Just as a lawn mower blade can become dull, so can our spirits if they are not tended and sharpened. I hope you have someone who will keep you sharp spiritually. If you don’t, why not get involved in a small group, a Bible Study, or a Sunday school class? Let’s keep one another sharp so we can be the people God wants us to be.
– Dr. Neil Epler