… and to self-control, perseverance …
Summary: Self-control is not just a one-time thing. Real self-control extends through time.
Have you ever heard the expression, “I can quit any time I want to!”? We often attribute it to people struggling with an addiction. It is often something like alcohol or smoking, but it could be anything. Not just big things, either. The same attitude is true for little things like eating too many potato chips or telling too many puns. (I know, that last one is hard to imagine, but it is true. It can happen!)
We like to think that we are in control. Satan wants us to think that, too. One of Satan’s Big Lies is that we are in control of our lives when that is the furthest thing from the truth. When sin has us in its grasp, it is not enough to believe that we have control. Freedom only exists when you or I not only say we have self-control but can exercise self-control.
Through faith in Jesus and participation in the “divine nature” that Peter mentions in verse four, we are set free from sin. Through the power of our Lord, we are set free. We really can exercise self-control. But just because we can exercise self-control does not mean that Satan gives up on us.
Every day, in every way, our enemy continues to temp us. In his first letter, Peter wrote:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
The real test of self-control is not in using it one time. The real test is being able to exercise self-control is when you persevere. Can you look back over the entire day and claim victory over whatever Satan has tempted you with? Can you look back over the past week and say the same thing?
Perseverance is not so much a test of self-control as it is a demonstration of self-control.
A friend of mine suggests using a calendar to track our successes in self-control. (It is not unlike my exercise log that we talked about in “Exercise.”) There is nothing special or magical about using a calendar for this. It is simply a way of seeing ourselves from another perspective. It is a measure of our perseverance.
It is somewhat like looking at ourselves in a mirror. The mirror reflects back to us how others see us. It reflects what we are at that moment. In the case of using the calendar to track our efforts at self-control, it is also a reflection of where we have been.
If we truly have self-control, if we have accepted Christ’s offer of participating in the divine nature, then persevering in that self-control is not too much to ask. If we cannot persevere, then perhaps we were trying to overcome temptation in our own strength instead of Christ’s.
Whether or not Christ in us might be reflected in one example of our self-control. If we continue to exercise self-control, if we can persevere in whatever aspect of godly living the Lord has put on our hearts, then it is a much stronger indication of Christ in us. Without perseverance, self-control is not really self-control.
To expand on the lesson here, the challenge is not in the details of what we are trying to control in ourselves; the challenge is in getting to know Christ better. In Christ, “all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27)
PS -I want to be clear: This is not a salvation issue. Having Christ give us freedom from temptations’ power is something that happens as we grow in Christ. The more we have Jesus in us, the less room there is for anything else. The outward sign of having Christ in us is being free of the world’s temptations. Can I still be saved if I fail in my efforts at self-control? I believe the answer to that is, “Yes!”
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
Application: The simplest and most direct way of getting to know our Lord is by being in the Word. Read the Bible. Every day. Do it.
Food for Thought: How does the power of Christ, that is participation in the divine nature, help us develop self-control that perseveres?
Ultimately it is Christ’s power that we need to overcome every temptation and challenge. Therefore, we need to walk in Him and take every thought captive to Him and His power. It is when we operate in our own power we are most vulnerable. Self control is a fruit or bi product of the Holy Spirit. We need God’s help with this and so walking in His power is critical (Galatians 5: 16 – 26; John 15: 5; 2 Corinthians 10: 5).
Brother Rich,
You are absolutely right. That is the challenge, to walk in Him and have our thoughts taken captive to his power. Great reference verses! Thank you!
When I think of self-control I think of discipline. My grandmother used the word discipline to mean punishment’s. “I’m going to discipline you by…” My grandfather likened it to “bending you back to the straight path.” (like in a Biblical sense; one has a “bend”) In the military discipline was used synonymously with “good order.” Everything in it’s place and ready for use. The words disciple and discipline come from the same root meaning. “Discipleship involves learning discipline—meaning instruction, rigorous training, or mastery of a body of knowledge and skill.” All of these to me tie into the same concept: being ready. In all of God’s Word, in everything Jesus taught, in our daily lives led by the Holy Spirit, we are being instructed, led to live a life of readiness. Ready to serve God here on Earth and preparing for our time with God in heaven. How does the power of Christ help us develop self-control that perseveres? We read His Word and we think about how it applies to our life. We continually think about how His Word applies to our life. I used to wake up and I thought I had to read the Bible first thing, like a checklist. At some point the Lord started waking me up earlier and I would lay in bed and think about the day’s prior events. All my actions and interactions with others and how they went. I would think about my feelings and my intensions, and also the results. This always resulted in me not only coming to a place of humility and ready for prayer, but then I would the Bible and I would be ready to receive God’s message. In turn, the next time a similar situation or interaction or feeling would come up, I was better prepared to do as God had laid on my heart. I could exercise self-control because I was ready.
Chris,
I love your story of moving from “check list” reading to self examination. It is a great illustration of Rich’s comment about walking in Christ and having our thoughts being “taken captive” to our Lord. When that happens, as you have testified to, our behaviors start to change.
Thank you!
09-15-2021, The simplest and most direct way of getting to know our Lord is by being in the Word. Read the Bible. Every day. Do it.
Our God is Holy, He cannot allow a speck of sin in His presence.
Habakkuk 1:13, Psalm 5:5-7, Romans 6:23,Isaiah 61:8, Amos 5:14a
Isaiah 59:2
Our God is Omnipresent. He is everywhere,
Jeremiah 23:23-24, 1 Kings 8:27, Acts 17:24, Colossians 1:17, Psalm 139:5-12, Deuteronomy 4:39
God seeks a relationship with men,
Genesis 3:8, Matthew 11:28-29, Romans 1:20, Romans 8:1-39, 2 Timothy 1:7
God has given all free will
Genesis 4:2b-7, John 8:44, Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Matthew 22:37
Sin is unrighteousness separates mankind from God:
1 John 5:17, Leviticus 5:17, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:9, James 4:17
God provides the power to Escape sin, and receive Faith
John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 4:1-3, Romans 5:8, James 2:14-26, Philippians 2:13
Matthew 6:33.
God will speak to us through His word and Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21,Matthew 4:4, Ephesians 6:17, Romans 8:13-14, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Corinthians 2, Philippians 2:13
,
Salvation comes from hearing the word of God, repenting and turning from our sins. God has done everything to secure our salvation. Our relationship with our living Omnipresent God is dependent upon the time we spend in study, searching and applying the scriptures to our lives. As we grow we will find our relationship with God becomes our way of life as we enjoy living His will over our own by the power of His Holy Spirit in our hearts. Mature Christians will find themselves living eternal life now, in a growing personal relationship with our Lord to the degree they walk in humble obedience to His Word, allowing Him to work through us as He ministers to others.
Thank you, Ron!
I love the overview of getting to know our Holy God! Well done! The last two items are especially appropriate. God provides the power to escape sin and he speaks to us through his Word and his Spirit.
Amen!