Self-Control

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“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

Proverbs 16:32

 

Of all of the things to master in life, mastery of oneself is perhaps the most difficult. Under pressure our emotions scream to be set free. It takes super strength to keep them under control, and that strength, comparatively, is greater even than the strength it takes to attack and subdue a city.

We know that Solomon was the wisest man in history, but it seems hard to believe the truth of this statement at first glance. We need to ask the question, in what way is the self-controlled person better than those with this power and strength? In one sense, both the self-controlled and the mighty have subdued an opponent, but is the way they are subdued the same? The powerful can force others into submission. The nature of causing our spirit to submit is different.

Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It comes out of the overflow of a heart that is submitted to Christ. The one who can rule his spirit is the one who is ruled by Christ. Therefore, to the extent that our anger rules us is the extent to which we have need of submitting to the rule of Christ. This process begins at the moment that the Lord saves us by faith and it continues as the Holy Spirit in us leads us in all ways to be like our Savior.

Lord, may our lack of self-control lead us to a greater understanding of our need to submit to your rule and reign in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Devoted to keeping Jesus Christ the main thing.

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