Self-Control's Excuse

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . temperance. . .” (Galatians 5:23)

Temperance, or self-control, the ninth and final quality of the Spirit’s fruit in Galatians 5, completes the bowl of fruit dialogue that started nine days ago. God’s process of working in our lives, tilling and pruning, conforming us to the image of Christ can be uncomfortable at times. But the goal is for you and me to be like Jesus, imitating Him, bearing the Spirit’s fruit.

Even as born-again believers, our earthly tabernacles struggle with fleshly desires, sometimes wanting what we want and when we want it. Compulsions, wrong actions, excessiveness, and over-indulgence are choices; we choose what, how much, or how less. Self-control’s excuse sometimes shouts, “I can’t help it!” Really? Did God force any decision on you? Was it the devil who made you do or not do something? You and I open or shut the door of our actions; we alone hold the keys to the locked doors.

Remember, the enemy of your soul is always watching and listening, taking advantage of any unguarded doorway into your life that has the slightest opening, swooping in unannounced and sometimes undetected. But never give him credit for something he didn’t do. Attributing to the forces of darkness poor decisions and anything negative or ungodly in your life for which you are responsible gives that cunning serpent of Eden’s garden great satisfaction. 

Like tasty fruit that takes time to grow and ripen, the believer’s development and maturity of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control is a lifelong process. Perfected ripeness of the Spirit’s fruit happens as we yield to the Master Gardener, allowing God to do what is necessary as He conforms us into His Son’s character.