What Makes a Good Person?Sample

Self-control: Restraining your passions

“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness...” (2 Peter 1:5-6).

The Lord God has given us many beautiful and good things that we may enjoy to the fullest. We can think of delicious food and drinks or beautiful possessions. However, none of these things should be allowed to control us. Therefore, we need temperance to control our desires. We must find the right balance so that we do not become slaves to our own passions but rather enjoy God's good gifts in freedom. Then we are “self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:8).

Self-control is mentioned as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In this context, Paul says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). That sounds pretty radical, don't you think? When the Holy Spirit is in control in our lives, we cannot let anything else control us. That includes addictions or untamed passions and desires.

Moderation is needed in all areas of life. These temptations vary from person to person. In what area do you struggle to control yourself? Could you pray to God very specifically for self-control in this area and to be filled with His Spirit?