I was really smacked around yesterday at church. Brian spoke right to me it seemed. We’re continuing to look at “add-i-tudes” and the things we should be adding to our faith as we grow as Christians. Yesterday Brian spoke on self-control.
Sure made sense to me.
He made the (maybe obvious) point that through self-control, we logically can’t do that on our own. It takes something outside ourselves to gain self-control.
He related it to a story about his beloved dog Ranger.
If Brian brings a plate of steaks outside and sets it by the grill and goes back inside, the dog will naturally do what they’ve always done – grab the steaks and eat them. Something outside of Ranger has to tell him not to do it.
It’s the same with us – if we are truly going to learn self-control – it will take a power greater than us to do it.
He took a close look at Colossians 3 and shared all the things we’re not supposed to do as Christians (Col 3:5-11). It’s easy to stop there at that list and simply check off the things we do or don’t do and compare ourselves to everyone else by that list.
And it’s easy to get in a cycle of temptation, sin, guilt and then promising not to do it again. Then being tempted, sinning, feeling guilty and promising not to do it again. We walk ourselves into a rut.
“Rules and laws will never break the power of sin.”
But if we keep looking at the passage (Col 3:12-17) we realize there are things we should do instead. And it makes perfect sense – if you focus on doing what’s right – you have a lot less time to do what’s wrong. I have several issues I have very little self-control on. Some of them I’ve been convicted of more than others.
But as I’ve mentioned before, let’s take my diet. If I walk into Chili’s and Laurie orders chips and salsa – if they’re sitting there – I’m going to eat them. But if I’ve already wet my appetite with something healthy before coming into the restaurant then I’m a lot less likely to reach for those chips. Or maybe if I pop a piece of Extra Sugar Free Gum (as seen on the Biggest Loser :-)) in my mouth I’ll avoid the chips all together. After all, who wants to mix mint gum with chips? Gross.
Brian pointed out that in Col 3, Paul lists 12 things that we should avoid. But then he lists 12 things we should be doing instead.
I love that they line up with each other. We should mortify or put to death the one and replace it with the other:
| Sexual immorality |
Compassion |
| Impurity |
Kindness |
| Lust |
Humility |
| Evil Desires |
Gentleness |
| Greed |
Patience |
| Idolatry |
Bear with each other |
| Anger |
Forgive |
| Rage |
Love |
| Malice |
Peace |
| Slander |
Thankful |
| Filthy language |
Word of Christ |
| Lying |
Truth/Wisdom |
I pray that I can put to death those areas I struggle with – not by making a promise to quit but by replacing it with the things of God.
The podcast will be posted in a couple minutes if you’d like to listen to the full message.
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