"As Iron Sharpens Iron" - Message Behind the Merch

“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs 27:17

This man we speak of, is the son of man (Jesus), walking with each of us who are believers. As the nails in this design symbolize, the closer we come to the Lord, the more our countenance is sharpened and shaped by His presence.

God has a sharpening process for all of us who are willing to bear the cost of the cross, which is our relationship with him.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

John 15:1-2

The crown of thorns in this design reminds us of the cost paid for our friendship with Christ, and the authority He holds over our lives.

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

John 15:14-15

As we walk deeper with the Lord, He refines us. He sharpens our character and transforms our countenance until it reflects His glory.

Countenance literally means: “a person's face or facial expression.” Like Moses, whose face radiated after meeting with God, we too begin to carry the reflection of His presence as we yield to his discipline.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2 Corinthians 3:18

However, the sharpening process that God puts us through isn’t as comfortable as simply looking at a mirror. It often can feel as though we are walking through a fire. The element of fire in the artistic design represents the Lord’s presence and the refining process we are put through.

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world”

1 Peter 1:7

To summarize, I believe this is what the Lord is saying:

“All of my children go through a disciplining process. That is what this ‘sharpening’ means.”

“‘My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.”

Hebrews 12:5-8

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:11-14

Our prayer for you is that you will draw near to the Lord, submit to His loving discipline, and go from glory to glory, in Jesus’ name.

Iron Sharpens Iron - Hoodie

View Product