Whelp, we are at that mid week mark. At this point this week has either been really great...or we are counting down the days until the weekend is here. In my past I could not wait to hit the Wednesday mark in my week. That meant...Friday night was only two days away. I could go out and get lost in the high of loud music, empty bottles and behave in a way I would be embarrassed if my Daddy saw. I would lose all self-control and act a fool.
We have been talking about The Fruits of the Spirit over the last few weeks. We have touched on Goodness, Faithfulness, Kindness and today I want to talk about self control.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Self-Control: is the ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward, or avoid some punishment.
Self-Control in the biblical sense would be to completely surrender to God. Before, when we are in the world, we may behave in was such as lying, cheating, adultery, jealousy, envious, drunkenness, judgemental...all of these are signs of being out of control. In some way or form just one of these characteristics could throw us in a downward spiral. Then that one day on Calvary, Christ was there to shed his blood with the cruxifiction. His selfless act...for our selfish flesh.
I believe we have all struggled with some sort of self control. As I shared going out would be a part in my life where I lost control. Perhaps you have no self-control when it comes to your finances? Or eating out of anger or depression? Gossip and judging other...at this point this has become a way of life. How is our lack of control servicing others? Is God able to use me if I can not even control my own behavior or desire?
Ephesians 5:21 New International Version (NIV)
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We are instructed to live in self-control. If the parents are out of control...the likeliness of the children behaving are slim to none. We are to lead a life that is productive and influential to others around us.
James 3:9-12 New International Version (NIV)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
In James he tells us that the same mouth we praise God should not be for shaming and cursing our fellow brothers and sisters. This branch bears no fruit...lack of self-control over your tongue is no service to God.
Romans 8:9 New International Version (NIV)
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
The Spirit of Christ works in our hearts helping us lead a controlled life as well as enables the fruit of self-control to grow to glorify God.
God wants to reward his faithful servants. I challenge you to make a list of areas in your life where you lack self control. Pray and ask God to help you in theses areas. You are not alone, I have my list too.
Love your reflection on the passage in James. So true! The attitude of our words should be the same no matter who we are speaking to...God or man.
ReplyDeletePrinting and framing that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Sybil, that passage in James is a good one! I like to see people refer to James, so many people overlook that book.