To Be...Self-Controlled
I know I posted this verse the other day, but I need it again.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet." 1 Thessalonians 5:8
"So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."
1 Peter 1:13
There are so many aspects of life in which we need self-control...how we spend our money, what we take into our bodies, what we allow to come out of our mouths, etc. I think Peter and Paul are encouraging us in the necessity of spiritual control. We have a choice daily whether or not to put on our faith and to experience the hope of the grace that comes to us through Christ.
To daily prepare our minds for action in this world we need to live with the truth of Scripture. Paul reminds us in Romans 15:4 "And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope."
With these afternoon thunderstorms we take precautions. It may be a rain coat, an umbrella, in our case taking a car instead of a boat, or a check of a weather apt and glance at the radar. Likewise there are ways we can become spiritual cautious/self-controlled:
"Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out." Ephesians 6:14-18 MSG
