In our message today, I want to focus on four encouragements and one admonition from Proverbs 17. When we speak of encouragement, we have all experienced the afterglow of receiving an encouraging word or text. And sometimes we are on the giving side of it and we’re able to watch as a person’s expression changes from that of defeat to the face of strength. What a blessing it is to both give and receive encouragement! Now when we speak of admonitions—or admonishing someone—we may or may not have a clear understanding of this term. To admonish means “to caution, advise, or counsel against something; to reprove or scold, especially in a mil and good-willed manner.”  The Apostle Paul uses this word to describe the work of God’s Word in our lives. He wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16a).