Wednesday, 25th September YOU HAVE SELF-CONTROL “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV) Self-control is a component of the fruit of the recreated human spirit. It’s translated “temperance” in King James Version and comes from a Greek word “egkrateia,” which means “the ability to hold yourself in.” It’s the virtue of someone who masters his body, passions, and desires from within. Self-control is the ability to say “yes” to the right things, and say “no” to whatever is not consistent with the godly life. This virtue is already in you as a Christian, but you have to let it out. Jesus showed us the perfect example of self-control. In spite of how badly He was treated, the Bible says He “…never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even…” (1 Pet. 2:23 TLB). Now you can understand why He said to us “…do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who ill-treat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too…” (Luke 6:27-29). This may be impracticable for someone who isn’t born again, but for you, it’s possible to remain unprovoked and walk away, even when others mistreat or offend you. That’s because you have self-control. Self-control is more than just choosing the good over the bad; it’s also about making choices for the best. For example, making the choice to study your Bible rather than watch the late-night movie is exercising self-control. Cutting down on your sleep-time and waking up early to pray is also exercising self-control. Make up your mind today to exercise self-control. You can “hold yourself in from within.” Never allow your life spin out of control. You have the ability to choose to do only those things that bring glory to the Father! Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for filling my heart with your truth. I know with certainty that I have self-control, I have the ability to control my mind and body, making it do what pleases you alone. I refuse to think or act unbecomingly. My words and actions are motivated by the love nature of God in me. I exercise control over myself and comply to the word in Jesus Name. Amen. Further Insight: 2 Peter 1:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:27 Study Plan: Nehemiah 12-13
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:06:03 +0000