EAGER FOR THE GIFT YOU [SHOULD] WANT
06/13/2024

I’m learning a lot through our Sunday morning studies in the letter to the Hebrews, and I hope you are, too.

Among other things, I am struck by the author’s repeated urgings that we who believe in Jesus are to gather with one another, strengthen one another, comfort one another, encourage one another, and spur one another on to keep following Jesus.

Carrying out these and other New Testament “one anothers” is crucial for spiritual growth and health.

There are lots of “Do this!” one anothers: Pray for, comfort, be kind, serve, love, and forgive one another. There are a few “Don’t do this!” one anothers, too. Don’t lie to one another. Don’t be jealous, envious, or boastful toward one another.

And then there’s one “Do this!” one another that is focused on “Don’t do this!” We are to admonish one another.

The idea behind admonition is that we caution, advise, or counsel one another against moving in a certain direction. If we see a friend traveling toward danger, we warn him or her to stop, turn around, back up.

The Apostle Paul tells us to admonish one another (Romans 15:14), tells us that he made it his aim to admonish the people he was with. (Acts 20:31) and shows us his admonishing ways when he admonished the Apostle Peter and Barnabas for hypocrisy. (Galatians 2)

I was especially drawn to think about admonition while reading through Proverbs recently. I came across this section from Solomon:

[Proverbs 9:7] One who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets insults for himself.
[8] Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
REBUKE A WISE PERSON AND HE WILL LOVE YOU.
[9] Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will increase his insight.

So, admonition is an ages-long ministry, applied by writers of the Old and New Testaments. Those who are wise receive admonition as a very good gift. Notice especially the second line of Proverbs 9:8 –

Rebuke (“rebuke” is a cousin of admonition) a wise person and he will love you.

The New Testament writers would tell us that we are to embrace the one another of admonition as much as we embrace love, service, kindness, and forgiveness. Solomon would tell us that we show wisdom when we invite, welcome, appreciate, and are grateful for admonition.

Along these lines, I have often told the story of Mike Singletary. Singletary is a former Pro Bowler and member of the NFL’s Hall of Fame. He played for the Baylor Bears and then for the Chicago Bears and was the lynchpin of the defense in both places.

He was famous for his intensity, his fierce, piercing eyes alert to every detail before every play, and for his dedication to the craft of his position. He played linebacker.

He was so committed to being the best linebacker possible that he would often stop Monday film sessions of the team’s Sunday game and plead with his teammates to help him improve as a player. He demanded, “What did I do wrong? How did I miss that tackle? How can I do better?”

Mike Singletary modeled inviting, welcoming, and appreciating admonition – and he did it to win football games.

You and I find ourselves in a game with infinitely more at stake than fleeting rewards or a Lombardi trophy. The goal line in our “game” is to honor and serve the One who lavished us with grace. He promises us an abundant life NOW as we faithfully follow Him and rich rewards, a great inheritance, and the privilege of co-reigning with Him in His coming kingdom THEN.

To win this game, we need help. We need to improve. To improve we need admonition.

Who admonishes you?

Do people feel free to offer constructive criticism? Do you invite them to do so? Do you thank people who admonish you? It could be painful to hear, but your friend is giving you a great gift when he or she counsels you to turn back from a dangerous course.

Who do you love enough to admonish?

To hold back from telling a friend what they need to hear is not loving. Speaking the truth in love is the way forward. Transformation is the goal. Admonition is one of the most powerful tools God puts at our disposal for effecting that change.

I am learning to love those who correct and rebuke me. Together, we can become the people Jesus saved us to become as we admonish one another.

Yours…His,

Dave