The Command of Self-Control

Happy Groundhog's Day! Where would we be without this wonderful holiday? Well, we'd be without a holiday that stomps on any hope of it getting warmer earlier and we wouldn't honor an overgrown rodent... Aaaahhhh... the joys of superstitions.
Proverbs 25:26-28

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

2nd Timothy 3:1-9

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

2nd Peter 1:3-11

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Self Control: Egkrateia (Pronounced: eng-krat'-i-ah):

• self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)

Well, self control is very important to God and salvation. Without self-control, I would be sinful. Without self control, I would be like a defenseless city. Everything would find it's way into my heart and there would be nothing I could do about it. It doesn't sound at all that fun. But think of being without boundaries... that is also a city without walls. I wouldn't know where to stop and I would not have any limits. That isn't necessarily a good thing, either. I would think the only good that could come out of being without boundaries is when it means to show Godly love to someone. I mean, that is what God wants, right? For me, I have to have boundaries. I have to have self control. Without it, I am doomed. Johnny Out.

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