To "One Another" One Another (Admonishing)

We are to "one another" one another as Christians. We are to love one another, serve one another, be patient with one another, etc. This month I have been exploring what "one anothering" really entails. I want to really be able to love God and love others.  Loving others can be challenging because we are all different and let's face it we are ALL difficult!

I have been pondering this verse mainly because it isn't one of those "one another" commands that we focus on much.  Frankly, it is one that most of us don't like to do.

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. Romans 15:14

To admonish one another. What does that exactly mean?  I looked up the word "admonish" in a dictionary and online in several places to get an idea of what it really entails.  Admonish means "to put or place in the mind" or "to warn gently".  Honestly, this isn't fun.  What if the other person rejects me for warning them?  What if I create bad feelings or a rift because I warn?  But I think we can admonish each other as long as it is covered in love.  If I am heading down a wrong path I would want someone to warn me.  If I am in a place of sin I would want someone that sees it to tell me.  We admonish our kids because we love them.  We need to do it with each other also.

I have seen where this concept of admonishing has worked in my life and the lives of others.  My husband and I admonish each other, and I have a couple of friends that I feel safe enough with to admonish them and they can admonish me. What a blessing when someone corrects us in love!  It is an act of love to warn and guide another away from sin.  If it is done right it isn't about condemning the other person, but rather it is a way to show your care and concern for another.  If our hearts are right (in that we truly want to help another person escape the effects of sin), then an admonishment is really love.

Are you willing to take the risk to warn another so that they don't step into something that will hurt them?  Are you brave enough to take a warning from another?

Let's admonish one another not because we are self-righteous or because we have a need to condemn.  Let's admonish one another to save them from the consequences of sin.

Let's "one another" one another because...

They will know us by our love.