When I was a teenager I learned how to properly sharpen my knife using a whetstone. One side usually has a rougher grit than the other. I would always start on that side. Then there was the angle you had to hold the knife at the get the right thickness and sharpness on the edge. I would then apply just the right amount of pressure too. There was no need to push the blade down too hard onto the stone. I would then take the blade from top to bottom of the stone letting the contact do the work as I rubbed it across. I’d have to make sure I matched pressure and angle on the other side in order to get the sharpness I desired. Then finish it off with the finer grit. I was once told that sharpening your knife was like a journey where every step counts. It takes contact, pressure, motion and intentionality to get a sharp blade.
Jonathan and David were a lot like the knife and whetstone. Their lives are a great example of how a friendship or relationship can make both people stronger and better. They put side their ideas of what the future was supposed to bring for the betterment of the other. They sacrificed for each other as well. In 1 Samuel 23, Jonathan’s father, King Saul, was hunting David down in the wilderness. Verse 16 says, “Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God“ (NLT). They renewed their pact to strengthen and encourage each other then Jonathan returned home. That visit helped David at a time when he needed it most. They were intentional about meeting up and helping each other no matter the cost.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” I believe the sharpening happens when we are intentional about how we interact with others. Are we giving them our attention or are we distracted by devices? Are we applying pressure when it’s needed to help move the other person. This sharpening happens a lot like the way you sharpen a knife. It doesn’t happen without intentional contact, moving through life together, and going through some gritty times. Sometimes sparks fly, but you keep at it because you’re making each other better. It’s not always easy to do, but every one of us needs a Jonathan in our life who will seek us out and lift us up when we’re going through the wilderness. It’s also critical that we are someone else’s Jonathan who will bring encouragement at just the right time. None of that happens without intentionality. If you’re feeling a bit dull lately, seek out your Jonathan and start the sharpening process.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 