“…able also to admonish one another.” – Romans 15:14
Paul describes the Roman believers as a people “full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14, NKJV). What a powerful picture of a healthy church. They weren’t only rich in virtue and grounded in truth—they were formed to admonish. The word Paul uses, nouthetéō, means to lovingly warn, guide, and instruct someone back toward God’s best. It’s not harsh correction or cold rebuke. It’s truth spoken with tenderness. It’s the kind of counsel that appeals to the mind, strengthens the heart, and redirects the wandering soul. In Scripture, admonishing is never about shaming—it’s about shepherding. It is more than advice; it is guidance rooted in God’s Word.
Throughout the Bible, we see believers admonishing one another with courage and compassion. Moses strengthened Joshua, urging him to lead with boldness (Deuteronomy 31:7). Nathan confronted David—not to destroy him, but to restore him (2 Samuel 12:1–7). Jesus Himself gently counseled Peter after his failure, calling him back into purpose: “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). None of these were professional counselors. They were faithful men speaking truth in love. Paul reminds the Roman church that they, too, were equipped to do this. They didn’t need a degree to help the hurting—they needed the Word of Christ dwelling richly within them (Colossians 3:16). The church was designed to be a place of healing, where confession, prayer, and encouragement bring restoration (James 5:16).
This is why gathering matters. A believer isolated from the body is a believer who cannot receive or give the encouragement God intends. Scripture urges us not to forsake assembling together, because we need one another to “stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24–25). When we stay home out of laziness or indifference, we rob ourselves of truth—and we rob others of the gifts God has placed in us. Every believer has something to offer: wisdom, comfort, prayer, Scripture, compassion. God has equipped His people with goodness, knowledge, and the ability to admonish. A strong church is one where no one suffers alone, because the family of God surrounds one another with truth and love.
Ask God to make you someone who speaks truth with grace. Look for opportunities to encourage, guide, and strengthen others in your church family. Don’t withdraw—lean in. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you so you can admonish with wisdom, restore with compassion, and uplift with courage. God has equipped you to help others walk in His truth. Step into that calling with confidence and love
“The Christian must be ready to warn as well as to comfort; true fellowship involves speaking the truth that saves, sanctifies, and strengthens.”—D. Martyn Lloyd‑Jones
surrendered devotions 