“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22–23

It is interesting to note that when the apostle Paul the Apostle appeared before Antonius Felix, “he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.” As a result, “Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you’” (Acts 24:25).

The Pharisees were religious leaders who fasted, prayed, and gave alms. Outwardly, it appeared as though they possessed self-control. Yet, in Matthew 23:25, 27, the Lord Jesus said of them: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence… Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

It would seem, according to Scripture, that Felix lived openly without self-control, while the Pharisees lived disciplined lives outwardly, but inwardly were marked by self-indulgence. Neither knew what it meant to live a Spirit-filled life and display true self-control.

Self-control is sometimes translated as temperance. It is the power to govern one’s passions and desires. The apostle Paul illustrates this by comparing the Christian life to a race in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

Peter the Apostle likewise challenges us: “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 Pet. 1:5–7).

We are living in a day characterized by a lack of self-control (2 Tim. 3:3). Yet may we display the fruit of a self-controlled life, both privately and publicly.

Anchor For Today:
May we live Spirit-controlled lives for the glory of God.