“Do not let sin control the way you live.” Romans 6:12 NLT.
The Holy Spirit indwells you and empowers with Godly qualities not naturally possessed.
My thoughts and comments today are, “just say no!”
Living with restraint can be challenging in today’s culture. It seems as though self-restraint is thought more vice than virtue. The culture glorifies unrepressed self-indulgence and unlimited self-expression more than Godly self-restraint. Such lack of self-control may seem more heightened with this generation, but it is by no means exclusive to our moment in history. Solomon described a time when, “I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing.” Ecclesiastes 2:10 The Message. That is a most miserable way to live. How did that work out? Read Ecclesiastes 2.
In the first century, ancient Rome may have exceeded the worst of our twenty-first century in not valuing self-control. Yet to the very Christians whose lives had to be lived out in the epicenter of such flagrant lifestyles, Paul wrote, “You must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t run little errands that are connected with that old way of life.” Romans 6:12-13 The Message. Don’t run errands connected with your old way of life; that is strong counsel.
In Paul’s letter to Christ-followers at Philippi, he brings greetings to them from, “the saints who are of Caesar’s household.” Philippians 4:22. What a testimony! Christ-followers were serving as slaves or servants in the very household of Nero, one of the more degenerate and profligate of Caesars. Imagine those Christians’ self-control. If they could live for God in such a place and time, you can live for Jesus whatever your location or circumstance today. They could easily have found an excuse to indulge themselves as those around them did; they had every reason to try to fit in to their surrounding, immoral environment. Instead, they chose to just say “No!”
What choice are you making today? Self-control is an incorrect term for what I am talking about. How successful have you ever been at controlling yourself when you wanted to do something that you knew was not right to do? When your body craves something your heart will not allow, what do you do? Is will power enough in such situations? Paul described self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. “When the Holy Spirit controls your life, He will produce this kind of fruit in you . . self-control.” Galatians 5:22 NLT. The Holy Spirit who indwells the believer empowers your spirit with Godly qualities not naturally possessed. When the Spirit of God is allowed control of your heart – your passions, desires, and actions – you will find true self-control possible.
One person’s testimony was firm, “I do not want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with the Lord.” To that, I say a hearty, “Amen!” The fear of the Lord is birthed in the heart of any person who knows what they are capable of doing, and what their sin would do to God’s heart and His righteous Name; Godly fear is not one’s fear of what God might do if you sin. “Fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.” Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT. Turn your back on evil; put the old ways forever behind you. My friend, Campbell, often said, “The heart cannot desire what the eye has not seen.” Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, “the Author and Finisher of your faith;” then you will not fixate on what destroys your soul. See Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT.
My prayer for you today is: live under the Spirit’s control of your mind, heart, and conduct.