The passage I read
was 2 Timothy 1:1-11
You can find that passage here:
The verse that most
stood out to me:
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not
make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
As I reflect:
This week is week one of looking at “self control”. At first I did struggle a bit to understand
what this passage has to do with self control.
Then I read a foreword which greatly put things into perspective. When I think about self control, I think
about what I am not supposed to do and how to control myself from doing
it. That concept is still true in this
passage but it is being approached from another angle. This passage is approaching from the mindset of
self control being also to do what should be done.
One must control themselves as greatly at moving forward and
doing what is right as they must not go the wrong direction or do what is
wrong. Both categories fall into the realm
of exercising self control. For me, the
daily “don’t do” has previously been the only focus of my self control. But to add, I must also force myself to move
forward (often out of my comfort zone) and do what is right atop not doing what
is wrong. When we are faced with this decision
to do what is right, we often have excuses.
To quote Highquest, “We struggle with the “over” issues: over-eating,
over-spending, over-reacting, etc. We
console ourselves with victim excuses that blame our past ancestry,
circumstances, or even our genes. We do
everything except take personal responsibility for our decisions.” We have excuses to not do what we should
do. This is a serious lack of self
control. Like a toddler throwing a fit
about a nap and excusing it saying he isn’t tired instead of saying “yes Sir” and
doing what must be done. Paul destroys
our excuses in this passage when he says “For the Spirit God gave us does not
make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
How then can anyone who claims to remain in the Spirit and
the Spirit of God in them, go on in such sin to excuse not doing what is
right? Let us daily put our excuses to
rest and instead recognize where it is that our power comes from. What great resources we have in the Christ we
claim to serve. Let us be self-disciplined
to use those resources.
My response:
Our Father in Heaven, you are above all the nations and you
see all of our excuses as plainly as we see the sun in the sky. We hide behind them far too often and are a
people whose lives are cowardice to do what is right. I am one of your children who is guilty of
this sin. I have many times been too
timid to present Christ to those who need Him.
I have many times lacked self-discipline in witnessing, helping others,
being a good steward of my finances, and even in controlling my emotions. Lord forgive me. I am ashamed at my passivity and desire to do
your will. I pray that your Holy Spirit
give me power, love, and self discipline that I may fan into flame the gifts that
you have given. Save me from my flesh
who is lazy and fearful. Lift me up
Father. In Jesus’ name.
No comments:
Post a Comment