Growing Together – Day 29: Self-Control
READ: Matthew 13:44 - “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Galatians 3:1-3 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
“When all is said and done, God is the gospel. Gospel means “good news.” Christianity is not first theology, but news. It is like the prisoners of war hearing by hidden radio that the allies have landed and rescue is only a matter of time. The guards wonder why all the rejoicing. But what is the ultimate good in the good news? It all ends in one thing: God himself. All the words of the gospel lead to him, or they are not gospel. For example, “salvation” is not good news if it only saves from hell and not for God. “Forgiveness” is not good news if it only gives relief from guilt and doesn’t open the way to God. “Justification” is not good news if it only makes us legally acceptable to God, but doesn’t bring fellowship with God. “Redemption” is not good news if it only liberates us from bondage, but doesn’t bring us to God. “Adoption” is not good news if it only puts us in the Father’s family but not in his arms.” - John Piper, For Your Joy
REFLECT: Self-Control is not ‘good news’ unless it leads us to be more like God. Thankfully, the Fruit of the Spirit lead us to God - to depend on Him, to imitate Him, to celebrate Him, and to live the abundant life He designed for us.
However, we have to actually want to be like God. We have to believe that there is more joy available in being like God, than in being unlike God. Sin always looks very appealing, and is always delightful in the moment, but it is at its very center - it is unlike God.
If we are satisfied with the small pleasures that are unlike God, that lead us away from God, we will never wholeheartedly, consistently pursue the abundant pleasures He wants to give us.
Are you ready to experience more of happiness? Imagine yourself in a bigger bowl with bigger joys! Can you imagine the words ‘holiness’ and ‘happiness’ in the same sentence? It can happen - pursuing God, His likeness, His character, His glory, and the Fruit of His Spirit getting lived out in our lives.
PRAY: It does not come by will power, it does not come by rules, it comes by faith. Ask for His help. Ask God to make us the kind of people who everyday sell off every other joy to get more of Him.