ADD SELF-CONTROL

This is week three as we are exploring seven characteristics of a godly life as outlined in 2 Peter. “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

The third virtue is self-control or the KJV’s use of the word “Temperance” denotes personal restraint. In the root of that word is “temper.” Used as a noun it would jive with the phrase “control your temper” which is contextually correct. But even more meaning is derived from the root of the word used as a verb “to increase toughness.” This is done with metal and with glass when each is heated to a specific temperature then cooled at varying rates which result in increasing the toughness of the metal or glass making them more useful in adverse and stress-induced situations. The resulting tempering makes these products better equipped to handle a lot of wear and tear.

 
Tempering must happen to the Christ-follower to increase their toughness against the world and its enticements. In the process of deepening your faith gaining self-control, over the things of this world that would cause you to fall into sin, is vital. The wear and tear your spirit is exposed to on a daily basis is proof enough that without the tempering effects of the Holy Spirit, by being submitted to his will and power—increasing your toughness— you will be unable at some point to stand against sin’s corrosion. Unfortunately, the failure rate is high because of the lack of spiritual tempering. Don’t fall victim because you’re not tough enough to withstand the pressure of temptation when it comes knocking on your door. Trust Christ to apply the appropriate heat of His truth to your life. A Christ-follower without self-control is like living in a house without doors—anything can and will wander in.