Jun 29, 2015
Iron Sharpens Iron
Young Adult
Josiah Lynch
Toronto SDB Church
The Christian walk is a walk of great sacrifice and ultimately eternal reward — but nobody said it was going to be easy. Along the way we will be faced with challenges and obstacles to overcome. It is essential to have the support and guidance of other Christians who can provide Godly counsel. Having this support system of believers is an important part of every Christian’s walk and growth, but is a particularly valuable asset to youth and young Christians. In today’s world there is a new and ever growing set of obstacles and challenges faced by young Christians that requires God’s wisdom and more peer support than ever before.
In my personal experience, I have learned that surrounding yourself with other Christians can help you filter out the distractions of life and focus on God in all that you do. This concept may seem simple, and it is. But all too often we, as young followers of Christ, take our focus away from the One who carries us through all of our triumphs and failures. Carrying this toxic attitude in our walk as Christians will only serve to hold us back from what God has planned for us by replacing His will with a false sense of self-accomplishment. Taking our eyes off of the Lord usually leads them to places they should not go. On the contrary, Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” With a group of people around you who have also put their faith in Christ it becomes easier to think about the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8.
Another reason why support from Christian peers is essential to our own personal walk and growth is because we have been given a task to complete. As Christians we are the body of Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 12:27. As members of Christ’s body, we all have different functions and are accountable one to another to carry out our purpose. Having other Christian friends who also understand the significance of many members acting together as one will not only help you grow as a Christian but will also afford you the opportunity to test yourself and help others do the same. At the end of the day, the work that Jesus has left with us is to bring the good news of His truth to others and be a light in the dark of this fallen world.
As Christians we are often faced with distractions, obstacles, and trials that are designed to take our focus away from God and the task that He has given to us. Philippians 4:13 states that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, and there is strength in numbers. As a Christian, when it comes to having the support of your brothers and sisters in Christ, the verse that always reminds me of this responsibility is Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” God calls us when we are young because we are strong. This verse reminds me that I need to be strong for my brothers and sisters in Christ and when I fall they must be strong for me. Divided we fall but together in Christ we will stand.
