Last night I got a surprise call from an old friend.  It was great to catch up and hear about what God is doing in his life and to talk about family and ministry.  He is a friend that we have always had the ability to pick up and pour into each other even after not speaking for months or even a year.  After connecting with him it made me think of others in my life who I should call to encourage.  It reminded me of this passage from Proverbs 27.  Let’s look at it together today. 

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.

One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Like a bird that flees its nest
    is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

The thing about iron sharpening iron is that it’s a rough process sometimes.  It involves sharpening dull edges with force and chipping away things that don’t need to be there.  We all need that in our lives.  Someone who can ask hard questions of us and push on our dull edges.  Someone who encourages us but also pushes us to be better.  I like how this passage starts, wounds from a friend can be trusted.  Sometimes we need to be prodded and “wounded” to be the best version of ourselves.  Who does that for young your life?  Who do you need to call today to encourage, push and maybe even wound a little bit to sharpen?  I pray that we would all have that person in our lives and be that person for others as well. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave