July 12, 2020
Self Control.
This isn’t the easiest topic to preach on, because the Bible shows many examples of people who did not have self control. Moses was frustrated and angry, and struck the rock to get water, instead of just praying. King David looked down at Bathsheba and, in the heat of the moment, did not exercise self control.
The Russian doctor Leonid Rogozov was on an expedition Antarctica over the winter. He had no contact with the outside world, came down with appendicitis, and had to operate on his own appendix. As he operated, he stopped thinking about pain, the local anesthesia, or the look of his own body parts. He stayed focused on the two-hour operation.
Self control is a difficult topic because everybody has impulses and emotions. There are so many temptations to wade through, from food and drink, to alcohol, to sexuality, and even social media. Unlike animals, we have brains that are able to control our feelings. We are able to avoid those strong attractions.
Joseph was able to elude Potiphar’s wife and her sexual advances. Daniel was able to avoid eating from the Babylonian king’s food because it would defile him. Jesus showed self control too.
The Bible reminds us that “his divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter: 1:3)
As hard as it might seem, let’s take a look at our own lives, ask ourselves where our struggle is the hardest, and remember that God has already given us what we need to overcome. Don’t give up! Reach out for help when you need to, learn and practice discipline, and gain mastery.