Self-Control

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Illumined by this experientially, having tried, having tested, having grown, maybe for the first time we can see the good and act in accordance with it. Peter talks about growing up in our salvation which only occurs after “you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3). Here, we are no longer swayed by compulsion: we are free! Now, we can calmly weigh the good and the bad, see its outcomes, and make a choice for the Lord. Self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit; I love that promise of success! We no longer fear self, just act in love and everything will take care of itself.

Fear, doubt, anger, lust, envy, and shame are powerful emotions which test our spiritual fortitude. Before Christ, these influenced our judgements and pushed us to actions of regret. But Christ, through Isaiah, encourages us to forget those former things which only kindled harsh emotions and the resulting behaviors. Stop dwelling on the past and appreciate the new thing which is welling up from within. Release the past with its harsh emotions and perceive the new thing which springs forth: is that the bud of love (Isaiah 43: 18-19)?

Christ has taken care of the past. And the future is guaranteed. Now, we are entrusted to live in the moment where God, through the Holy Spirit, empowers us to choose wisely. Heaven is a pre-established reality. But consequences in this life loom large. If we are led by the spirit, we can choose joy and fruitfulness. If we are led by the flesh, we inadvertently choose misery and dissipation. This world matters: choose life and fruitfulness.