Romans 15:14 (KJV) “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.”
Now, before you get all excited and say, “No one better be admonishing me or correcting me,” let’s look at what the word means. It is nouthetein, and it means to admonish, warn, counsel, and exhort. It also means to put into mind and to caution or reprove gently. There is much more to this word than correction.
I would say to you that you would have to have a relationship with someone in order to do this. I don’t think you would do this with a stranger or someone you just met, and you and I don’t have a ministry of correction. But if you have a relationship with someone, you are their friend, and they know you love them, and they love you, this should be a vital part of your relationship.
I am really concerned for people who don’t have someone in their life who can do this. In other words, they keep all their relationships shallow, and the moment someone tries to get to know them or help them, they bolt.
This Scripture first talks about being full of goodness and knowledge. So, if I am going to let someone admonish, counsel, and instruct me, they have to be good and full of knowledge, but not just any knowledge. They should be good and full of the knowledge of the Word of God, and not just head knowledge. It must be a working, real knowledge of God Himself.
So no, not everyone gets to speak into our lives. Not everyone gets to admonish you and counsel you; only those with the right heart, full of goodness and the knowledge of God. Yes, be careful who you give your ear to in this hour. There are many voices in the world right now, but are they speaking for God to you or just flapping their gums?
You and I must have people who can speak into our lives. We all need to be admonished, counseled, and instructed. You will never grow past that, and yes, you too can be that to someone else. You know stuff too!
I heard someone say, “You should always have someone speaking into your life, and at the same time, you should be speaking into someone else’s life.”
It is time to do this verse so we can all grow up in the Body of Christ!