Ephesians 1:15-21 is a set of verses that really encourages me. We glimpse Paul’s heart and his thankfulness for the church in Ephesus! He speaks with gratitude and hope. On top of that, he deeply desires the saints to continue their spiritual growth.
First, Paul starts by expressing his gratitude for the Ephesians’ faith in Jesus. At the same time, he also expresses thanks for their love for the saints.
Many factors contribute to messing up a person’s life. Lack of self-control is a significant one. You might be on top of your finances and then wreck them by buying things you don’t need. Not to mention, you could excel at controlling your temper until something gets under your skin and you snap. Without a doubt, self-control is an essential and crucial characteristic of a Christian.
Put very simply, having self-control is sort of like driving a car. If you let go of the wheel, there’s a good chance you will run into another vehicle (or possibly off a bridge). But holding onto the wheel gives you the ability to drive defensively. Along with that, holding the wheel allows you to reach your destination. Paul certainly drove this point home (pardon the pun) when he wrote to Titus; he told him to teach everyone self-control. In fact, his instruction wasn’t just for pastors. It was for everyone who calls themselves a Christian. Indeed, he wrote about it five times in both chapters one and two.
In Titus 2:11-12, Paul wrote, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age..”
The Greek word Paul used is sóphrón, which means “curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate.” We also see it translated as “sensible” and “discrete.”
In Your Life
What does this look like in your life? Think about the area of social media. It’s obviously great for staying connected, but it can too easily eat up hours of your day. Self-control in this area might mean limiting your screen time. Then, you’ll have enough time for prayer, family, and rest. It’s all about balancing your digital life with your spiritual and physical well-being.
Along with social media, self-control is also critical at work. Maybe a co-worker gets on your nerves. Instead of snapping back, self-control means responding with patience and kindness. This keeps the peace and shows Christ’s love in action.
What about self-control in the area of your entertainment? Is it difficult for you to balance video games, music, food, or alcohol? Consequently, do your impulses take over?
Make Right Choices
Paul’s message in Titus isn’t just about avoiding bad behavior; it’s also about building good habits. Think about it like training for a marathon. You don’t just avoid eating unhealthy food and expect to see results simply because you signed up. You put in the time and reps to get the necessary miles, even when it’s hard. By practicing self-control, we create a life that reflects God’s grace and makes choices that bring us closer to Him.
Self-control is about steering our lives in a way that honors God. Simply stated, it’s saying no to what pulls us away from Him and yes to what draws us closer. Just like a driver uses a map to reach their destination, we use self-control. God’s grace navigates our lives.
So next time you face a challenge that tests your self-control, remember Paul’s words in Titus. Let God’s grace always be your guide. It will surely help you make choices that shine with His love and wisdom.
I’ve always had a passion for all things boards. From the freedom of skateboarding through city parks to carving fresh powder on snow-capped mountains. Not to mention the rhythm of surfing ocean waves. Without a doubt, it’s a thrill like no other. I love feeling the wind rushing against my face. Strangely, times like this are also when I find myself in deep prayer. Yes, you read that right; I absolutely connect with God profoundly while gliding on a board!
As we continue in our spiritual walks, Proverbs (Chapter 2) provides lessons for us on the value of wisdom. At the same time, it reveals that wisdom protects us and guides us away from wrong decisions and people who want to lead us astray. Wisdom isn’t merely intellectual. We can certainly read, know, and even teach about it. However, it has to be applied to our actions as well to affect our lives.
I often find myself reflecting on the idea of waiting on the Lord. Waiting can seem frustrating in our fast-paced world, where immediate results and quick fixes are highly prized. My personality is to get in and fix things as soon as possible. So, it’s not easy when I have to wait days, weeks, or months for something. I can start to get anxious very quickly.
As a designer, putting my designs out there for the world to see always opens up doors of insecurities and doubts for me. The narrative I can easily start telling myself is, “I am not good enough.” or “What am I even doing?” or “There are so many people better at this than me.” Of course, there will always be people who are “better” than me — and you. They are people who have more experience and more knowledge. They are also people who know the value of constructive criticism.
Treasure hunts are so much fun! At least I think so. You get a map, look for clues, count your steps between each spot, and then, finally end up on the big X! You’ve found your treasure. Most of us would say we are not searching for a treasure chest filled with gold; but, we are always searching for something. We might be searching for a way to surprise our spouse or kids, a way to get a promotion at work, a way to live a healthier lifestyle, a way to make more money, or maybe for the best, wood-fired pizza? The list is endless.
We all once lived a life apart from God. We tried to fill the God-void in our hearts with the things of this world. That looked different for each one of us. We’ve all had our own stuff — baggage, sin, or whatever you want to call. It’s the stuff we have dealt with and may even still deal with today.
I love the thrill of roller coasters. There is just something about them — the anticipation while I am waiting in line, the grinding and clanking sounds while I slowly move to the top, and then… the drop! I get butterflies in my stomach thinking about it. I usually go through the entire ride with a huge smile on my face. As it comes to the end, I get super pumped and want to do it all over again!
“With every bone in my body I will praise Him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?” — Psalm 35:10
