Influence!

Influence!

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. Proverbs 27:17 AMPC

The power of influence and company. The joy that comes from sitting with the right people and listening to the wisdom that flows through their words and their lives. The amazing power of a life that knows and respects its limits, and does not take up more than he has been called to do. The grace that flows out of a life that has first listened to God before it speaks to other people. The power of a life that is first surrendered to God before it seeks to influence other people.

How does iron work? The power of similar metals is seen in our daily lives, where we use similar metals to sharpen even other metals. You use an iron file to sharpen house knives. Locally, you rub a knife against a sharp stone to get its cutting edge back. The same applies in the spiritual, as seen from today's extract. Iron has a strong and powerful influence on iron, maybe because both have the same strength or maybe because they are basically made up of the same materials. Whatever it is, both of them cannot meet at the same spot and sparks will not fly. The power of influence.

Who are the 'iron' in my life? Who holds influence over my life? If my iron comes in contact with your own iron, what lasting impressions or impact would be contact make and leave? Unfortunately, no man was created to make it on his/her own, without human interaction. We will all meet all sorts of iron on the way to our eternal destination but the duty we hold to ourselves is to make sure that the right kind of iron influences us. The first verse of the psalms says a lot about this, where it states that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the path of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers. Those are other kinds of iron, and we will all meet them as we go on our life's journeys.

1 key lesson: whichever kind of iron you are comfortable with shows what kind of iron you are. If I am comfortable around mockers, grumblers and complainers, it is only fair to expect that I will turn out to be such. You look like the one you spend quality time with. Iron will either lead to a worthy purpose or bring out rage. It all depends on the kind of associations I build and nurture. For the sake of eternity, I had better be sure I am keeping the right company and getting the right influence. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the right kind of iron. Am I one? His time of favour is here.

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort].
ECCLESIASTES 10:10 AMP