Iron Sharpens Iron

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17

Forsaken...no one ever wants to feel that kind of agonizing left behind feeling. Loneliness can be a barren, cold place, and there is great necessity in coming together, as a community, for the sake of one another. We are built for relationships with others. Revelation Fitness is a community. This community supports physical fitness, as well as the whole person in mind and body. My prayer is that the community grows to support one another through life’s journeys including meeting fitness goals, supporting one another, meeting one another, and growing as a community, where everyone feels accepted and belongs. We are only as strong as the communities that we belong to and are accountable to. It is my hope that we work together to become an effective community that works together to make each other better along the way. My pastor shared...we are not meant to walk this life alone - we are built for community.

In the article, “What Does "Iron Sharpens Iron" Really Mean? Scripture Meaning and Significance”, Michelle Lazurek shares, “I think about two iron rods rubbing together. As the friction increases, the heat between them increases, allowing them to create a spark between them. Although it may be uncomfortable for the rods to rub in that way, the spark that results, when fanned, becomes a flame that can’t be contained. There is a mutual advantage when you rub two iron edges together; the blades become sharper, causing the knives to become more effective in their ability.”

When iron sharpens iron, it isn’t always comfortable, but personal growth isn’t always comfortable either. If we are to be better and grow as human beings, who are responsible to one another, we have to put ourselves into practices that help us grow and continue to be willing to learn. For example, many of our members belonged to a community together, prior to Revelation Fitness. That community of women who exercised together, grew into something bigger...members became friends, friends felt like family, women supported women, women held one another accountable, and beautiful relationships flourished and continue to grow to this very day. How special is that? It was not all born into existence through rose colored glasses though...many became true friends who “cared enough to boldly speak the truth in love in one another’s life.” I had people do that for me, and we remain close friends to this day. Sometimes the truth hurts, grinds down the sharp edges….but in the end, it is worth it to have people in your life that walk with you through the good and bad.

Here’s the best news...we have the opportunity to choose who we surround ourselves with and those who we choose to allow to influence us. Iron doesn’t sharpen iron on its own though. It works reciprocally. We have the choice to choose groups and people in our life that will sharpen us and will allow us and be open to sharpening them. So, consider this...who do you want to sharpen you? What traits does this person have? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-Control, Wisdom, and the list may go on. If this is who you may want in your life, we have to commit to practicing these traits in our own life too. Sometimes, that may even mean letting go of people and cir