Self-Control........

As I sat in service on Sunday morning,  Pastor Beacher shared the last Fruit of the Spirit series- self-control, my mind wondered. I don't remember if it was something that he said or something that perhaps was whispered in my ear and that was this: As the Spirit develops each fruit in our lives, one fruit makes way for the next? In other words, as the Spirit of love is developed in my life, joy comes easier and the more love and joy I have the more peace I have making it much easier to be kind to and have patient with others showing gentleness and goodness and so forth and so forth. Eureka! This IS the transformation. I do not believe it was an accident, the order in which these fruit are listed, but divine inspiration to the writer, in this case Paul.

When I sit back and think about the structure, it makes sense. That is not to say that we can't try to display or practice these attributes ourselves, cause I have no doubt that some of us have tried. Truth is we already have some of these attributes, some of us our just born with an abundance of love, or a gentle spirit, or joyful nature, but these are human attributes not spiritual ones.  We all have our strengths and weaknesses and the people closes to us know what those are, but it is in this truth that people know a transformation has taken place, because as His Spirit grows in us, and we began to display these attributes, it is no longer our nature they know and see.

I have to admit, of all the nine Fruit of the Spirit, self-control is not my strong suit. Sometimes I don't control my thoughts, my words, my anger. or I let my pride get in the way and really mess up! There is and will always be a battle going on in each of us, the angel/devil on my shoulder scenario. Though we tend to laugh and joke about "the devil made me do it" chances are he didn't have anything to do with it, but rather our sinful nature pulling us between our fallen nature and spiritual nature His Spirit is trying to develop in us. Because we are born into sin, that is what we are drawn to, it is our human nature and because of this our biggest enemy is not the devil but our inner selves. Self-control almost seems unnatural in certain cases, just because you speak the truth about something doesn't mean that you ignore all the other things, like being insensitive to the feelings of others (gentleness). Self-control says I can but should I?

Well I am and forever will be a work in progress still singing that childhood song "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be......how loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me".

Have a great week everyone!