Biblical Building Block #7 Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14) – PART 1

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”

Biblical Building Block #7 Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14) – PART 1

Romans 15:14, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

The believers in Rome showed great care among one another and for one another. Paul saw wonderful love, care and forgiveness displayed for one another there. Our relationships with one another are very important to the Lord. How we treat one another is not only a reflection of our relationship with God, it should develop from that relationship. We can reflect three qualities or traits regarding the believers in Rome. Let’s consider their character, their cognizance, and their capabilities. The believers were able "to admonish" one another. Paul starts by telling these brethren that they were qualified and had the ability to admonish one another. The word admonish means to encourage, counsel, or warn. To put in mind, to implant the truth into the mind, give advice to; to guide and correct and instruct. To admonish is to caution or reprove gently. Having a thorough knowledge of the Word of God should cause us to tenderly warn and advise one another. The Bible teaches that admonishment can come from different places, and we should except it when it does.

1. Preachers (Jeremiah 42:19)
Jeremiah 42:19, The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
Evangelist Peter Cartwright was known for his uncompromising preaching. One Sunday, when President Andrew Jackson came to Cartwright’s church, the elders warned the Pastor not to offend the President. In those days, the President had great power to influence a congregation for good or bad. Comfortable that their Pastor would not say anything to discredit their church, the elders retired to the back of the sanctuary. When Cartwright got up to speak, the first words out of his mouth were, "I understand that President Andrew Jackson is here this morning. “I have been requested to be very guarded in my remarks. Let me say this: Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent of his sin!" The entire congregation gasped with shock at Cartwright’s boldness. “How could this young preacher dare to offend the tough old general in public?” they wondered. After the service, everyone wondered how the President would respond to Cartwright. When President Jackson met the preacher at the door he looked at him in the eye and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men just like you, I could conquer the world!" When we appreciate and accept the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit speaking from the lips of people with conviction, we will make eternal differences.

2. Parents (Ephesians 6:4)
Ephesians 6:4, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.
Do all you can to nurture and encourage your children. It is your duty and your responsibility, but there is no greater privilege than raising our children! God blesses every parent with children to be raised for Him, to bring to Him. A Christian couple once adopted a little boy from a Korean orphanage. They loved him unconditionally and encouraged him each day. One day they asked him, "Would you like to go back to Korea?" He replied, "No, because here I am somebody special." Our goal should be that our children feel like someone special at home because of our love for them.

3. Parishioners (Colossians 3:16)
Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD.”
Paul says we must permit the Word of Christ to live generously within us. God’s Word should be that one thing that drives our lives, our actions, and all that we do. This is how we can encourage other believers in word and deed. With God’s Word strong in us, we can exercise wisdom. By putting the Word that lives through us into action, we act out the wisdom in God’s Word. When we teach others to do this, we are admonishing them. We have a responsibility to encourage others. What we speak and what we do are the key elements to success in giving thanks and admonishing one another. Some of the most unexpected people you could imagine need encouragement. Encouragement is very important to sustain a close walk with the Lord in this world.

The encouraging person...

• challenges one to…look up to the Lord and stay the course in serving God
• counsels us to…reconcile with those we have hurt and offended.
• fires up those…who are feeling like a failure
• inspires…the tired
• motivates those…who hesitate
• opens up those…who have been silent and don't want to speak to anyone
• stirs up those…who want to settle down with the status quo
• urges those…on the verge of surrender or defeat

We have a responsibility to encourage one another. This begins by being filled with the knowledge of the Lord and His Word and also being filled with goodness. God wants us to be encouragers.

Questions to Consider:
Who can you encourage today?
Are you willing to bless someone who can offer you nothing in return?
Are you willing to give just a few minutes to go the extra mile to make someone’s day?

Points to Ponder:
You never know what a big difference your act of kindness can make in the life of someone else!
Take advantage of every opportunity the Lord gives you to encourage someone who maybe hurting.
You are not defeated when you are knocked down, only when you stop getting back up.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the encouragement and comfort that comes from knowing Your Son. Open my eyes to see what You see in others. Help me to encourage them to talk to You in prayer, to hear from You in Your Word, and walk with You obeying Your Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!

Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series.

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