Living as We Please

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25
"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things."
Read it online at the Bible Gateway: (NIV) (NASB) (KJV) (The Message)

We have boundaries from our Christian culture that tend to restrain us from obvious sins, but within those boundaries we pretty much live as we please. We seldom say no to our desires and emotions. A lack of self-control may well be one of our more "respectable" sins. And because we tolerate it, we become more vulnerable to other "respectable" sins. A lack of control of our tongue, for example, opens the door to all manner of defiling speech, such as sarcasm, gossip, slander, and ridicule.

What is self-control? It's a governance or prudent control of one's desires, cravings, impulses, emotions, and passions. It's saying no when we should say no. It's moderation in legitimate desires and activities, and absolute restraint in areas that are clearly sinful. It would, for example, involve moderation in watching television and absolute restraint in viewing Internet pornography.

Biblical self-control is not a product of one's own natural willpower. Some unbelievers exercise self-control in specific areas to achieve some goal. But in other areas, they may live with little or no self-control. An athlete may be strict in his diet while totally lacking in control of his temper.

Biblical self-control, however, covers every area of life and requires an unceasing conflict with the passions of the flesh that wage war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). This self-control depends on the Spirit's influence and enablement. It requires continual exposure of our mind to the words of God and continual prayer for the Holy Spirit to give us both the desire and power to exercise self-control. We might say that self-control is not control by oneself through one's own willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Excerpt taken from Respectable Sins)