“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 26:17.
Lonesome Dove - one of my favorite movies (mini-series really) staring my favorite actor Robert Duval. You might remember it. Its about a group of ex-Texas Rangers - who embark on a cattle drive. Duval’s character “Gus” thinks himself a philosopher and so he chose as the motto for their cattle company “uva uvam vivendo varia fit.” It is misquoted, misspelled, and mostly made up Latin that roughly translates to “A grape changes when it live with (or sees) another grape.” That’s what Solomon is saying here.
No man is an island unto himself. We all change in relationship with others, and they change in relationship to us. How we change largely depends on the relationship we have - good grapes, good change; bad grapes, bad change. Being in relationship with God and with people of faith - the church - is the best sort of relationship. Neither are perfect because only God is perfect and we aren’t God, but as far as change goes, its the best option we have.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have chosen to have a relationship with my through faith. Help me to change in the ways you would have me change so that I might better conform to the person of your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.