Day 20
Strength Under Control
When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:8-9
One of the hardest nights for me as a child was Christmas Eve. There was such anticipation of what would be under the tree the following morning. Lying on my back, eyes wide open, looking at the ceiling, and listening to every sound that my ears could possibly pick up, the early morning hours could not come soon enough. It took incredible restraint for me to remain under the covers until the dawn of Christmas morning had broken.
When the morning came, I would run into my parents’ bedroom announcing that the gift-giver had come during the night, and it was time to celebrate – to open, view, and play with the long-anticipated gifts that were carefully placed underneath the lights of an illuminated, sparkling tree by the rotund guy dressed in a red suit and sporting a long, white beard. Although falling asleep the night before was difficult, waiting for the “right time” to gaze upon the Christmas Day treasures proved to bring an ear-to-ear grin, elated joy, and giddy exuberance.
We live in a world where instant gratification and satisfaction has become our mantra, and impulsive actions and reactions have often led to regret or remorse rather than jubilation and peace. Patience and self-control often go together – two sides of the same coin. These two qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit help us to think before we act and ponder before we speak. I can’t tell you how many times I have wished that I could have reeled back the words that spewed from my mouth or pushed the “rewind button” on the remote that controlled my poorly thought-out actions and decisions.
Jesus was incredible at practicing the art of self-control. Imagine the battered Son of God wearing a purple robe, being slapped around by mocking soldiers, donned with a crown of thorns that dug deep into his forehead, and dripping drops of blood that would be for the sins of his executioners and for all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Among the horrific shouts of “Crucify Him!”, Pilate would question this accused “law breaker” about his pedigree and his authority.
Jesus could have expounded the truth about who He was, but He chose to say nothing, giving no answer. Such self-control. Such restraint. Such bridled strength. Accurate words that were in His mind, never made it to His lips. Can you imagine the non-verbal communication going on between Jesus and Pilate? I can only imagine how Pilate must have interpreted Jesus’ silence, as we know that the Messiah could have roasted this political leader right then. However, like always, in Jesus-fashion, He knew when to speak up and when to be quiet. Self-control was a part of His DNA.
For us, self-control displays an unimaginable strength that is only produced by the grace of God. It seeks the wisdom and heart of God before self-pleasure or self-fulfillment. It pursues the good of others before ourselves. It pulls back on the reigns of our flesh that wants to run toward sin instead of righteousness. It is rooted and grounded in obedience and faithfulness.
When we want to retaliate, defend ourselves, or indulge in selfish desires, practice the Fruit of the Spirit called self-control. Like the gifts that we delight in on Christmas morning, unwrap the gift of the Fruit of the Spirit that produces Christlikeness in our lives.
FURTHER REFLECTION:
What areas of your life need to be more self-controlled? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these areas to you. It may be in monetary spending, use of time, relationships, the tongue, or actions that you know aren’t the will of God.
Ask for God’s forgiveness where the lack of self-control has led to harmful results. He is willing to forgive based on your confession and excited to help you when self-control is needed in your life. Be brave to ask. If actions or words have offended someone else, seek forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Dear God, so many times I want to do things that please me. I don’t even consult you. I fail to seek advice and wisdom from You before I act or speak. Help me, gracious God, to live a self-controlled life – a life that is centered, dependent, and focused on You and not on me. I ask that you help me to do Your will even when it’s hard. Help me to practice restraint, especially when confronted by temptations. I live my life in total surrender to You as my Leader and Forgiver. This day and every day, I submit to the authority of Your Lordship. Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
James 1:19-21, Mark 14:58-65, 1 Peter 2: 21-25, Titus 2:11-14
by John Hogan