“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Prov. 27:17 NKJV).

The Body of Christ is made up of people.  And when the Lord redeems us, it is His intention that we be connected and joined with other  fellow believers.  The purpose is help us grow and reach our fullest potential in Christ.  It is designed by the Lord to deepen our faith and to enrich  our walk with Him.  It is in the relationship of fellowship that we contribute  and invest in each other’s life. 

Every child of God has infinite value and worth.  The Father demonstrated this by sending Jesus to die for us and pay the full price for  our sin so that He could fellowship with us.  Fellowship is important to the Holy One!  The Trinity is the fullest expression of fellowship.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect fellowship together.  Jesus longs to share the wonder and richness of that fellowship with us!  He longs for us to be a part of that and to experience that (John 17: 21-23). 

In the Body of Christ everyone has things they have learned in their walk with the Lord. Each person’s  insight can be an encouragement to another brother or sister in Christ.  It is one thing to read and understand the written Word of God.  It is another thing to experience the power and the reality of that Word in our life!   What we have learned by walking in Truth amplifies the reality of that Truth when shared with others.  Likewise what others have learned can enrich us and encourage us as well.   

When a tool is sharpened it works more efficiently and effectively.  Anyone who has tried to cut something with a dull knife  knows  this very well.  Dullness requires more effort. It  is in the relationship of fellowship that we sharpen one another in the Body of Christ.  Sharpening one another enables the Body of Christ to be more effective and useful for the King! 

James W. Black