Weekly Bulletin – February 16, 2025

The fruit of the Spirit is… temperance. Galatians 5:23

Temperance here means self-control – and not just with regard to alcohol. Generally, it means having command of ourselves, the ability to restrain ourselves, our feelings, and our desires.

But for Christians, it has an added dimension. For us, self-control is the fruit of the Spirit. It is a spiritual grace, not a natural acquirement. Considered as a spiritual grace, it is the exercise of faith in the gospel by which we obtain the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome the impediments of the flesh to our sanctification and service.

Self-indulgence is the great enemy of the work of the Spirit in and through us. It is the sin of giving way to the lusts of the flesh, and because it feels “natural” it is a sin we can most readily justify or excuse. Self-control – or rather the control of self by the power of the Spirit of God – is total abstinence from all things that the Scriptures forbid, no matter how the flesh craves them, and the avoidance of excess in satisfying the natural desires they permit. It therefore calls for us to live with our eyes on Christ and His cross, to crucify the flesh and its lusts, and to live in submission to what the Spirit says in His word.

Out-of-control Christians are a contradiction in terms and a serious stumbling block for unbelievers. Yet self-control is not easy, for we constantly face fierce temptation to indulge the flesh. We are surrounded by people who do so without the slightest hesitation, and we are often mocked as prudes or fools for refusing to follow their lead. This is a day for bold, selfless, Christian living in the light of what we believe about Christ, being ruled by what God says, regardless of the opinions of men or the urges of the flesh.

Daily devotions are from the book “A Word in Season” published by Let the Bible Speak. © Let the Bible Speak 2010 – All Rights Reserved.