Training in Self-Control - February 20

Read Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Reflect

Do you consider yourself a disciplined person? Do you struggle with self-control in any area of your life?

Do you remember those days as a kid where people just hand you all kinds of candy? If you were like most kids, those days were also days you learned about self-control. Either your parents set a limit for you, or you learned the hard way that too much can make you sick.

But self-control isn’t just difficult for kids; it anything it’s harder for adults! As adults we have much more freedom to set our agenda. We can eat whatever we want. We can go to bed whenever we want. And if we want to look at our phones during dinner time, who’s going to tell us to put it away?

But as much as we may not like it, most of us come to the realization that a little self-control goes a long way.

In today’s verses, the apostle Paul was writing to his coworker, Titus. Paul had left Titus in charge of the believers in Crete, which was a Greek island well-known for its extreme immorality. The theme of Paul’s letter to Titus was about the connection of belief and behavior. Those who believe the Gospel should behave like they know God. He said that people who have placed their faith in Christ have received the grace of God for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of their souls. But Paul pointed out that God’s grace does much more than just save us—it changes us! After all, God redeemed us from lawlessness. Paul credited God’s grace with training us to renounce ungodliness and to live godly lives instead. God’s grace trains us to be self-controlled and to do the right thing.

This is a huge encouragement to me because it means it doesn’t all depend upon me and my own will-power. I know that my flesh is weak. But God has given me the grace that I need to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life for His own glory.

Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as one of fruits of the Spirit. When we receive Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit. One evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives is our growing ability to make ourselves do the right thing. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the apostle Paul reminded Timothy that the Spirit God gave to us is “not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

As Christians, our lives should reflect the fact that we know God. We do have to be able to exercise self-control. We have to be able to choose to do the right thing for the glory of God. But what a gift to know that God’s grace is training us in this! We have the Holy Spirit strengthening us and equipping us to say yes to godliness and no to worldliness. Our job is to yield to the Spirit and cooperate with His work in us. Like training for physical fitness, we have to keep showing up with a willing heart. The more we practice, the more our self-control muscles will grow and develop.

Respond

Lord, I want to be disciplined for Your glory. I want to be able to force myself to do the right thing and lead a godly life. But my flesh is weak. I need Your grace to train me up and develop stronger self-control in my life. Help me choose to live a life that glorifies You. Amen.

Reveal

Our self-control or our lack of it, reveals a lot about our character. Prayerfully consider how living a more disciplined life could reveal God’s grace in your life to those around you.