Self-control…stays on the cross.
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 24: SELF-CONTROL”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Matthew 27:38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
I’ll show them!
I’ll get down from this cross, destroy the temple building and have it rebuilt in 3 hours let alone three days.
I’ll show them!
I trust God. I am the Son of God. I’ll just step down and I’ll show them!
Jesus didn’t say or even think the things above, but the taunts and the jeers and the challenges had to be a temptation against self-control.
Self-control is challenged when others challenge us to prove our point or prove our abilities or prove our claims.
Dares…double dares…challenges to my person challenge me to lose self-control.
A taco eating challenge leads to a day of sickness afterwards – dumb move.
A drinking challenge leads to a drunken driving arrest – dumb move.
A challenge to prove your fastball leads to a torn rotator cuff – dumb move.
A mean insult leads you to take a swing at the person – dumb move.
When people challenge our ego, our claims, our person our natural response is to prove them wrong.
It takes self-control to be confident that you don’t have to do something against your person or purpose to prove yourself to people who don’t care about you or would change their mind even if you did.
The insults were brutal. The challenges were real. The temptation was strong.
But power isn’t shown in one’s ability to do something, power is proved by choosing not to do something, even if you have the power to do it.
Jesus practiced perfect self-control on the cross in the face of intense challenge to do otherwise.
Self-control knew destroying and rebuilding the physical temple in Jerusalem would have no converts if his rising from the dead didn’t change minds in three days.
Self-control knew getting down from the cross was less significant than triumphing over the cross as he did.
Self-control knew that coming down from the cross would save no one…staying there would.
Self-control knew that if the many miracles he had already performed hadn’t convinced the religious leaders of his authenticity…coming down from the cross wouldn’t either.
Self-control led Jesus to be consistent with his person and purpose as he hung on the cross. He came to bear the sins of the world…including those that mocked him. Self-control led him to forgive instead of insult back. Self-control led him to pronounce salvation to the thief who recognized his position on the cross paled in comparison to his position before his Holy God. Self-control led him to suffer separation from his Father so you and I would never have to.
He could have come down.
But he didn’t.
To show us.
How much he loves us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for staying on the cross…for me. AMEN.
Self-Control…Shows love.
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 24: SELF-CONTROL”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are two extraordinary days for the Christian. For in these 24-36 hours we see amazing expressions of love amidst incredible hate. We see incredible self-control amidst many who were out of control.
Maundy comes from “mandata” or command. When we think of commands we think of things we SHOULD do OR ELSE. Commands usually carry consequences. To avoid consequences, we obey commands.
But there is something different about Maundy Thursday and the “new command” Jesus gives. It is not a new tablet of 10 commandments to replace those given to Moses. It is not a list of rules that would govern the Christian church. It is an expression of love the Jesus invites us to follow. It is an expression of love that will proclaim to the world that we are followers of Jesus.
In no way was this command a “do as I say, not as I do.” In fact, John begins the record of the last hours of Jesus’ life in this way, “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1-2). Jesus was not going to stop his love for his disciples. To the very end of his life, he was simply going to be an expression of love.
From washing the disciples’ feet, to giving his body and blood in the Supper, to receiving the mockery and scorn, to giving up his life on the cross, no greater love was ever shown.
Why? Because he loved us.
Love was going to not just be the example, but the motivator for all to follow him. Jesus could have given more commands and demanded allegiance “or else.” But laws don’t change hearts. Grace changes hearts. Laws may get me to not do something. Grace leads me to not desire what is wrong.
So it is in self-control. Self-control expresses in love for others. When self-control is out of control it expresses in selfishness, anger, indulgence and more. Judas gave into greed. The chief priest gave into their hatred. Peter gave into his fear. WE cannot control ourselves. We need more. So Jesus gave us his love, instilled by his Spirit.
Self-control is expressing love to others. When, by the Spirit’s power we say no to sin, it is a witness to our connection to Christ.
When we fail, we have a perfect Savior to return to, confess our lack of self-control, receive his forgiveness and draw on his strength to move forward.
Just like Paul wrote to Timothy – grace, God’s love to us in Christ, is what teaches and guides us to a life of self-control.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Apply: As you reflect on Jesus’ love for you, how does his grace motivate you to rely on his love to say, “No” to sin?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are amazing in all you have done for us. Your love is full. Your grace is real. Your forgiveness is complete. Transform my heart and life so that your command to love is simply and always the focus of my life. AMEN.
Self-control…Holy Week…How could he?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 24: SELF-CONTROL”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
How could he?
Was 30 pieces of silver all Jesus’ was worth?
Why did he not change his mind?
Whenever we see “big” sins on the news or experience them in our lives or even commit them in our lives, we maybe ask, “How could they do that?” Or, “How could I do that?”
People don’t just wake up one day and decide to have an affair. People don’t just on a whim decide, “I’m going to rob that convenience store.” Individuals don’t just randomly take steps to kill masses of people.
When sin manifests, it is often big and ugly. It often affects people that are closest to us. It often is much bigger than we could imagine.
Self-control is about understanding how sin works.
Judas didn’t just hit a low point of desperation and found an opportunity to make a quick buck, Satan had been working on his heart for a long time.
John 12:4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Judas’ betrayal didn’t start during Holy Week. His heart was captivated by the love of money for a long time. As keeper of the purse for Jesus and his disciples, every time a gift was given he was tempted to keep some for himself. Every time he said “No” to the love of money, he practiced self-control. However, it seems that it became easier and easier for him to say “Yes” to taking some and let go of any power over his sinful nature.
An ongoing lack of self-control led to a heart that was Satan-controlled.
John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
So Judas is a sobering reminder to us of what happens when we allow our sinful nature to win the temptations that are presented to us. Every lack of self-control is a step farther down the path of the manifestation of evil.
James puts it this way:
1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Jesus put it this way:
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
And this is exactly why we need Jesus.
Because we need his forgiveness and grace to teach us to say “No” to sin and to lead self-controlled, upright and godly lives.
Because we need his strength to do as Joseph did when presented with temptation, Genesis 39:9 “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
And so we need the strength God gives to flee from sin before a lack of self-control becomes Satan-control.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Apply: What is a temptation that Satan gets you to easily fall for? What is the promise and power of God you can memorize, rely on and throw in Satan’s face when this temptation comes again?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we praise you for walking with resoluteness to the cross. We need your grace to forgive us when we fall and we need your strength to practice self-control as you did so we never become Satan-controlled. In your mercy forgive us and strengthen us! AMEN.
Self-control…Holy Week…and being faithful!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 24: SELF-CONTROL”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Jesus told another parable on Tuesday of Holy Week…
Matthew 25:14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Self-control is staying on task even when the master is not away. The two faithful servants in Jesus’ parable understood their role in the direction that was given to them and the consistency that was needed to take what the master had given them and to earn a return.
Again, like yesterday’s parable, the servants didn’t know when the master would return. They just knew he would. They could have taken some of the money and spent on personal pleasures. They could have waited (or never acted) expecting the master would be happy just to get his money back.
Self-control is the ability the Spirit gives us to maintain focus on the task to which we are entrusted.
Our sinful nature loves to get us to deviate from the will of God and do what we want. It takes the power of the Spirit to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” as we wait for the master to return.
Saying “yes” to the master and carrying out his direction means saying “no” to our sinful nature and all it desires.
Easy?
Not at all.
That’s why we can be so grateful that the Lord Jesus stepped into our place and was the perfect, faithful Savior. He was entrusted with the work of saving the world. He never wavered. Never deviated. Always faithful to his Father’s plan.
For this faithfulness, Lord, we ask your help!
Apply: What is the biggest temptation to consistently use your time, treasures, and talents to the glory of the Lord Jesus and the promotion of his kingdom?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being faithful in your promises and on task with your mission. As you were disciplined to stay the course, cover our lack of faithfulness and self-control with your precious blood. AMEN.
SELF-CONTROL…Holy Week…And being ready!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 24: SELF-CONTROL”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Matthew 25:1-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Waiting for someone or something is one thing. Usually waiting is just the passing of time for the day or event to happen. I wait for my birthday. We anticipate Christmas. We look forward to a vacation.
All of these are examples of events we KNOW when they will happen. When we know something will happen, it certainly takes discipline to be ready for the event, but often times, preparation is a few days before.
What if someone said, “We’re taking you on vacation, but we are not telling you what day”? How long could you have everything ready to go at a moment’s notice? Perhaps the first week would be good…first month? Perhaps the longer it took, the more you would doubt it would happen. Toothpaste comes out of your travel kit. The shorts you were going to take, are in the hamper. The cash you planned to take, was spent on something else.
When the timing of something is uncertain, the discipline to maintain readiness every day is tough.
But that type of self-discipline is what Jesus is inviting us to as we wait for his second coming.
We don’t know when he is coming for the second time. But he wants us to be ready.
What does that look like?
Paul in writing to Titus, put it this way:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Being prepared focuses on two things: Be secure in God’s grace and forgiveness and saying “No” to ungodliness.
This might be easy for a day or two…but for 2 months…2 years…a lifetime?
It’s why we need Jesus in our place to perfectly live a life of godliness in our place and give us his grace to forgive us and empower us to say no to sin and live for Christ.
The very waiting and preparedness Jesus teaches, is the preparedness he empowers us to have.
Apply: What challenges you to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming?
Prayer: Lord, Jesus we praise you for your work this week on our behalf. Empower us by your Spirit to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives as we wait for your return! AMEN