Enable One Another to Find God’s Will

Can we enable one another to find God’s will? In the Bible, we see many passages which describe how we are to live in relationship with one another. As we enable one another, we pray for and with one another, don’t speak evil of each other, and judge one another appropriately.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

Pray for and with One Another

Enabled by God’s Spirit, we can enable each other to accomplish His good pleasure. Hand in hand, we pray for and with one another. Together we stand before the throne of grace, seeking God’s plans and purposes.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT (see also James 5:16)

Do Not Speak Evil of Each Other

Do not speak evil against each other encompasses the idea that we are to consciously guard against degrading our mate’s character. God is at work continuously moving in ways that we may not comprehend. Condemning a work in progress puts us in a position to usurp Christ’s authority, thereby slandering both our spouse and God.

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

James 4:11 NLT

Judge One Another Appropriately

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other.

Romans 14:12–13 NLT

While Romans 14:13 (NASB) says, “let us not judge one another,” 1 Corinthians 6:1–5 advises that we are to judge among each other.

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?

1 Corinthians 6:1–5 NLT

The point is that we are not to be judicial. It is not our place to play God and pass sentence. But we must be discerning and evaluate the nature of our beloved’s heart without condemnation. Wayne Stiles has a great podcast entitled, Judge Not – What Did Jesus Mean? for a more thorough elaboration of judging one another appropriately.

We have the incredible privilege to enable one another to find God’s will. Together we may seek the face and heart of God to know how to honor and serve Him in our marriage and all our relationships.

Insight Journal

How are you doing with each of these expectations?

• Pray for and with one another
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed
    
• Do not speak evil of each other
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed
    
• Judge one another appropriately
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed

Other posts in the One Another series:

• How to Love One Another in Marriage
• Enlighten One Another about God’s Truth
• Enrich One Another with God’s Truth
• Encourage One Another with God’s Truth
• Encounter One Another with God’s Love
• Experience One Another through God’s Love
• Empower One Another with God’s Truth
• Engage One Another with Hospitality

Excerpts from Marriages that Minister by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis. Available from your favorite book retailers, including Amazon and Redemption Press. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)

Would you like a more in-depth study of Marriages that Minister? Enroll now in our Teachable Marriages that Minister class.

Read more about Marriages that Minister: A Portrait of Christ and His Bride.

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