We are on the last day of a 9-day journey. As we studied this week, Paul listed nine godly virtues that constitute the fruit of God’s Spirit—the inward and outward effects of having the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. They are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Temperance (self-control) – “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).
Where the New King James Version has “self-control,” the earlier King James Version used the word “temperance,” which means self-restraint. Today, however, this word usually carries the narrower sense of moderation or, when referring to alcoholic drinks, total abstinence. Therefore, as commonly understood today, temperance is only a small part of self-control.
Another thing to consider is whether the sequential order of the nine godly virtues is significant. The first listed, love, is clearly the most important. Is self-control listed last because it’s the least important? On the contrary, self-control is extremely vital. Paul emphasized it alongside “righteousness … and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25).
Perhaps self-control is listed last as the capstone—since it takes a lot of self-control to exercise the other eight virtues! It takes a lot of self-control just to “bridle” one’s tongue. Maybe Paul was thinking of love and self-control as the two great bookends of the set.
We all face temptations to sin throughout our lives. When confronted with temptation, we must strive, as far as possible, to get away from it—flee! Even if you think you have a lot of self-control, don’t put it to the test unnecessarily.
Consider some of the things we are told to flee: “Flee” from a “stranger” (a teacher of lies), “flee sexual immorality,” as Joseph had to literally flee (Genesis 39:12), flee from idolatry, flee all kinds of evil, and flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22).
Jesus said, “The spirit [one’s attitude] indeed is willing, but the flesh [human willpower] is weak” (Matthew 26:41). God will not take away a person’s free will to make choices in life. But as long as you keep inviting Him into your life, He will empower you “to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).
As with all of us, your biggest spiritual enemy has likely been yourself. But take heart. With God’s great help, you can conquer this enemy!
“We need self-control to avoid not only outright evil but also too much of the good things.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come before You in prayer to magnify and glorify Your precious name. Draw close to me, O Heavenly Father. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, and shape me into who You want me to be. Allow Your will to be done in my life, so I can become a living, breathing testimony. Take control, Jesus; be my strength. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Allow me to display self-control when temptations draw near. Help me to resist whatever comes my way. Make me pure, holy, and true when the enemy tries to intervene. Give me peace in my mind, body, and soul so that I can remain focused on You and Your word daily. Let Your Word be the bread that I crave and long for as much as the air that I breathe. Let lustful desires, anger, guilt, jealousy, sorrow, and pride just fall away at the sound of Your great name. May these things not control my actions, emotions, or thoughts. I continually desire to seek You. Give me the strength to overcome. Continue to grow the Fruits of the Spirit in me. Without You, I cannot go on; I need You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Living a life without Jesus? Read below.
Life can be overwhelming, filled with moments of joy and times of struggle. In the midst of it all, many of us seek something deeper—a connection that brings peace, purpose, and unconditional love. If you’ve been searching for meaning, I invite you to consider Jesus. He is not just a figure in history; He is our Savior, longing to embrace you with open arms. Recognizing our own imperfections and the weight of our burdens can lead us to a beautiful truth: Jesus offers forgiveness and a new beginning. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done; His grace is sufficient for all. If you feel a tug on your heart, it may be time to take that step of faith and invite Him into your life.
Salvation Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a humble heart, acknowledging my need for You. I recognize that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and to offer me the gift of eternal life. I believe that He rose again, conquering death and sin.
Jesus, I invite You into my heart today. Be my Lord and Savior. Help me to turn away from my old ways and to follow You in faith. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, guiding me in my journey of faith. I commit my life to You, trusting in Your love and grace. Thank You for this new beginning. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.
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Rob Lavallee
Scriptural Seeds Ministries
Scriptural Seeds Ministries 