“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”
Admonishment is defined as a firm warning or reprimand.
When is the last time someone admonished you? .... How did
you respond? The bible is clear that as Christians
we are called to do this for each other.
It is hard to admonish because we don’t like
confrontation. And it is hard to be
admonished because we present ourselves as perfect.
Most people want “friends” who praise them and revere them…but
seldom do we want to be corrected or reprimanded.
In other words, we want fans, not friends.
If a fan sees a destructive flaw in my life, they will look
the other way…If a friend sees one, he will call me on it.
The bible tells us to love one another, be at peace with one
another, be devoted to one another and those things are pleasant and provide
fellowship …But it also says to admonish one another…and while not always
pleasant, it is valuable because it improves and protects us.
I am thankful for people in my life who are willing to correct
me…I seldom enjoy it, but it forces me to look in the mirror and it makes me better.
Having a friend that cares enough to admonish is like
having a knowledgeable coach in the press box. It provides a vantage point that
you cannot see for yourself. And if there is someone you trust in the press box,
you will make better decisions on the field.
The key to being a successful “admonisher” is your
motivation… If you correct me because you want to elevate yourself by pulling
me down - your admonishment will be useless…but if you admonish me because you
love me and want what is best for me…your words can be life changing.
We all need friends who love us enough to be uncomfortable.
That is the difference in an acquaintance and a brother.
Determine to have that in your life. Love your brother
enough to tell him what he needs to hear – And love your brother enough to
listen when he tells you what you need to hear.
“If you don’t love your friend more than you
love your friendship then you don’t have either one.”
– Anonymous
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