Knowing something is wrong, but insisting on it anyway, is denying the fruit of the Spirit temperance to operate in our lives. While everyone is tempted to do wrong we must learn to not give in. Even Jesus was tempted. Practicing self-control (temperance) means learning to say no.
Self-control cannot be compartmentalized. A truly self-controlled person exhibits control in every area. For instance, we cannot be self-controlled in the use of the computer and not exhibit self control in another area. This does not mean if we fail in one area we fail in all areas. Rather the same spirit of temperance that kept us from giving in to one temptation or weakness can be used in other areas of weakness. Often a person out of control in one area of life is out of control in many areas. A disciplined life is one that endeavors to be temperate in all things.
Exhibiting self-control can be achieved by paying attention to all details in life. If a room is dirty, clean it, if a picture is crooked, straighten it. Soon the efforts of self discipline in one area affect other areas. We must be careful in obtaining self-control to not become controlling. Temperance involves self and not others. How absurd would it be to walk into someone’s home while endeavoring to straighten our own pictures and clean our homes and start doing so in other people’s homes? Likewise we cannot bring control into other people’s lives. Everyone must reach into themselves to achieve temperance. We can help others by our influence or example. True self-control allows us to love those who may not exhibit our level of control. The truest test of temperance is not in perfect settings or situations but rather in the presence of temptation or other’s failures. Remember temperate means finding the middle ground, showing moderation, avoiding excess, or offsetting an extreme.
People who exude a kind or quiet composure may not say much, yet have an air of calm deliberation. Their presence is comforting because they are temperate. In a world full of enticing indulgences, it is often necessary to find the middle ground. Temperance may seem boring on the surface, but it is the calm of a hurricane's eye. All around are swirling winds but in the center is a still calm point that brings everything into balance.
Temperance produces a spiritual beauty that overflows into the body. Intemperance hinders beauty. Intemperance cannot be found in kindness, generosity, or a gentle spirit. Moreover, empathy and an awareness of another’s suffering and needs are not noticed in lack of temperance. A love or desire of one’s self is the epitome of pride. Pride destroys every virtue including temperance. Pride begets disobedience and vainglory which is direct opposition to self-control.
Lord, help me to be more like You. Let me love the sinner yet not become a sinner. Allow me to use Your Spirit to avoid temptation to every enticing thing this world may offer. Help me to control every thought, attitude, and action. Help me control my spiritual desires and my physical desires and actions. I know that my spiritual life can never be separated from my physical life. I desire to manifest the fruit of Your Spirit including temperance in every area of my life.
Self-control cannot be compartmentalized. A truly self-controlled person exhibits control in every area. For instance, we cannot be self-controlled in the use of the computer and not exhibit self control in another area. This does not mean if we fail in one area we fail in all areas. Rather the same spirit of temperance that kept us from giving in to one temptation or weakness can be used in other areas of weakness. Often a person out of control in one area of life is out of control in many areas. A disciplined life is one that endeavors to be temperate in all things.
Exhibiting self-control can be achieved by paying attention to all details in life. If a room is dirty, clean it, if a picture is crooked, straighten it. Soon the efforts of self discipline in one area affect other areas. We must be careful in obtaining self-control to not become controlling. Temperance involves self and not others. How absurd would it be to walk into someone’s home while endeavoring to straighten our own pictures and clean our homes and start doing so in other people’s homes? Likewise we cannot bring control into other people’s lives. Everyone must reach into themselves to achieve temperance. We can help others by our influence or example. True self-control allows us to love those who may not exhibit our level of control. The truest test of temperance is not in perfect settings or situations but rather in the presence of temptation or other’s failures. Remember temperate means finding the middle ground, showing moderation, avoiding excess, or offsetting an extreme.
People who exude a kind or quiet composure may not say much, yet have an air of calm deliberation. Their presence is comforting because they are temperate. In a world full of enticing indulgences, it is often necessary to find the middle ground. Temperance may seem boring on the surface, but it is the calm of a hurricane's eye. All around are swirling winds but in the center is a still calm point that brings everything into balance.
Temperance produces a spiritual beauty that overflows into the body. Intemperance hinders beauty. Intemperance cannot be found in kindness, generosity, or a gentle spirit. Moreover, empathy and an awareness of another’s suffering and needs are not noticed in lack of temperance. A love or desire of one’s self is the epitome of pride. Pride destroys every virtue including temperance. Pride begets disobedience and vainglory which is direct opposition to self-control.
Lord, help me to be more like You. Let me love the sinner yet not become a sinner. Allow me to use Your Spirit to avoid temptation to every enticing thing this world may offer. Help me to control every thought, attitude, and action. Help me control my spiritual desires and my physical desires and actions. I know that my spiritual life can never be separated from my physical life. I desire to manifest the fruit of Your Spirit including temperance in every area of my life.
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9 comments:
Wonderful post today. Thank you!
You certainly have presented food for thought (or is it "fruit" for thought??). Your post says it so well that there's nothing to add.
Awesome post!
Consider this an invitation to "preach" Wed. nite.......
Well said!!! Enjoyed your post.
Excellent. Thank you.
Wow! Great post. You girls leave me speechless and feeling elementary with my simple post...LOL.
Thank you all for your kind remarks. Well, almost all! Kent, I leave the pulpit to you, my dear. Seriously, this is just a little something that I have been tossing around in my little head for a few wks.
The fruit of the Spirit is a litle more challenging to obtain that we sometimes like to admit.
Lord, let me to embrace temperance like this! Excellent post.
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