Honed to Perfection

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at the friends they keep. In other words, your friends will mirror you. Whether they were already like you or you became like them (or are becoming like them) there are definite similarities between you and your friends. When I first understood this concept I challenged it, too. I knew my friends and didn't want to be defined by their behavior, but I couldn't help it. It was true. The friends I kept looked an awful like me, or at least the me I was becoming.

Through the years I've paid quite a lot of attention to who I hang out with. Now I don't mean that I weigh carefully who I should or shouldn't be friends with, I try to be friendly with everyone, but I've watched who I naturally gravitate toward and it has changed over time. It's really true that my closest friends are the ones that reveal who I most want to be like. They reflect my ideals. My friends are mirrors of me, and when I look at my friends today, I'm very pleased because I really like who they are and who they are helping me become.

Friends are great influencers. Not only will they mirror us, they shape us, too. One of my greatest friends (second only to my wife!) is Steve. You've probably heard me talk about him and our relationship many times. But our friendship is not just about being with each other, it's much more about shaping each other. It's our mutual love and respect for Christ and each other that makes us push each other to be better. There's an expectation, an accountability in every conversation, in every meeting. We are pushing to become more like each other, more like Christ. Every time we meet we are honed just a little more.

"You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17, The Message)

I don't mind if you check out my friends. I'm proud of them, and I hope they are of me. They are making me better all the time. I like what I'm becoming because of them.

What do your friends say about you?

Peace ><>

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