Are You Self-Controlled?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-6 HCSB

My grandson, Logan, is three years old and enjoys building things. When he was very young he was able to stack blocks one on top of the other until it would become top heavy and fall. He would squeal with excitement and then start building another tower of blocks. For Christmas we gave him a Lincoln Log building set. He now enjoys putting the logs together to build houses and other structures. The common element is that he has to start with the first block or log and then begin building on it.

The same is true in our walk with the Lord. We must start with the first building block – “faith” in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and then build on that faith if we are going to become like Jesus Christ. Our ultimate goal is to be as much like Christ as possible in our actions and thoughts. In these Scriptures Peter provides a list of things we must do to become like Christ. One of these qualities is self-control or discipline. We must discipline ourselves to do what is right. Our human nature is to do what is best for ourselves or what brings pleasure. Some false teachers in Peter's time had said that since Christians were saved by faith, they could do and say what they wanted and would be forgiven. Peter argued that they would be forgiven, but Christ desires more for each of His followers. We are to strive to become like Christ.

Challenge: Do you have the first block of “faith”? If not, then pray and accept Jesus as Lord of your life by faith. Next begin to work on the other qualities to become like Christ. Be self-controlled and discipline yourself to seek and obey Christ's teachings. The Holy Spirit will guide you to do what is right in your actions, thoughts, and emotions.

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