“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
“Practice makes perfect”
“If you don’t use it you will lose it”
When you read these sayings, what do they mean to you?
For me I instantly imagine a talent that I possess and if I do not practice to hone my skill then I will most certainly lose it. I will grow weak and my skill sets will surely diminish.
What came to mind after reading this chapter. Was thoughts of my daughter, Victoria. Ever since she was a little girl, she loved to draw. Drawing supplies were always a requests. We always had a supply of paper, markers, pencils, crayons, everything she needed to create her works of art. I think around 10 years old, she wanted to learn to draw hands. In order to accomplish that skill, she decided the only way to learn was to get a book from the library that taught her how to draw hands. Then everyday she would practice until she successfully learned that skill. Now at 23 years old, she is still drawing, every day she makes time to sit and draw. She’s an amazing artist. Its taken years but she has mastered the skill she set out to do. She continues to learn new skills, while using different mediums. My point is she has never stopped learning.
Peter is nearing the end of his life and his hope is that all believers would desire to have a personal and intimate relationship with our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. So that grace and peace would abundantly be given to us. Verse 5-8 say, “5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s an urgent request that we not be idle, rather that we stay active, growing our faith, until we reach maturity. So that we do not fall back into our old sin ways. I believe the message that Peter is urging to all believers, is that we never stop learning. Proverbs 24:5 says, “The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.