Good friends

Proverbs 27:17 "As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp."
   Today's scripture tells one of the ways we can stay sharp; which is to stay in relationship with fellow believers and keep one another in check. When we need to sharpen tools to a razor's edge it is important to apply friction to the blade and run it across a rough surface. This will eliminate any imperfections that would cause the blade to snag or drag.
      Good friends know your weaknesses and imperfections and you know theirs. There is no competition or desire to upstage each other so as one needs chastening the other can respond in love; as one needs support the other can respond with comfort. When doubt or fear embrace and try to paralyze, friends know just how much tension to apply to get us up and motivated again. Enough pressure to bend but not to break. The iron of their will grades up against the iron of our resistance and in the final analysis both are improved! Cherish your friends who are not "yes" men in your life. The ones who will call you to the carpet when you act foolishly or need a jolt of reality. Be that type of friend to others. Iron is most effective when it is clean and polished. 
       Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn