The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control.
Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober. § Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Gal. 5:22–23; 1 Cor. 9:25–27; Eph. 5:18;
Matt. 16:24; 1 Thess. 5:6–8; Titus 2:12–13
Grow up in all things into Him
who is the head – Christ.
First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. § Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
They, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise … But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
The substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Eph. 4:15; Mark 4:28; Eph. 4:13;
2 Cor. 10:12, 17–18; Col. 2:17–19; 2 Peter 3:18
It was early Sunday morning before dawn. An elite, handpicked Roman guard was watching the tomb in which Jesus of Nazareth had been laid. Knowing their very lives depended upon their vigilance, the eyes of the soldiers never dimmed, their bodies never relaxed as they carried out their assignment to keep any and all away from the tomb. No one was to get in. Certainly no one was to get out!
Suddenly, in the darkness, the ground began to rumble and shake as though a mighty rocket was being launched, and a violent earthquake erupted. Then, before the horror-filled gaze of the guards, against the inky blackness of night, an angel clothed in light as dazzling as new snow under a noonday sun descended from heaven, walked over to the tomb, rolled away the stone, and sat down on it! The guards passed out in terrified unconsciousness because they had seen past the angel and the rolled-away stone into the tomb! And the tomb was empty! JESUS OF NAZARETH HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD! HE’S ALIVE!
He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me,
I shall come forth as gold.
He knows our frame. § He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. § I … will refine them as silver is refined. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, “This is My people”; and each one will say, “The Lord is my God.”
Job 23:10; Ps. 103:14; Lam. 3:33;
2 Tim. 2:19–21; Mal. 3:3; Zech. 13:9
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.
Moses said to the Lord, “… I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You …” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” § He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way … Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. § Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. § I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. § The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Ps. 25:4; Ex. 33:12–14; Ps. 103:7; 25:9, 12;
Prov. 3:5–6; Ps. 16:11; 32:8; Prov. 4:18
Within a period of eighteen months, I went through a cluster of storms that left me emotionally gasping for breath. From Hurricane Fran, which downed 102 trees in our yard, to the fire that consumed my husband’s dental office, to my son, Jonathan’s, cancer and surgery, to my parents’ increasingly fragile health that included multiple hospitalizations, to a home remodeling project that involved a contractor who took our money but refused to do the work, I reeled from one emergency or crisis to another.
Looking back over that eighteen-month period, my thoughtful, confident conclusion is that God allowed the storms of suffering to increase and intensify in my life because He wanted me to soar higher in my relationship with Him-to fall deeper in love with Him.
Faith that triumphantly soars is possible only when the winds of life are contrary to personal comfort. That kind of faith is God’s ultimate purpose in allowing us to encounter storms of suffering. Trust Him!
By this we know love, because
He laid down His life for us.
The love of Christ … passes knowledge. § Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. § You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. § Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. § Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. § [Bear] with one another, and [forgive] one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you. § For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. § Christ … suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
You also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. § We also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:16; Eph. 3:19; John 15:13;
2 Cor. 8:9; 1 John 4:11; Eph. 4:32;
Col. 3:13; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 2:21;
John 13:14–15; 1 John 3:16
The Son can do nothing of Himself,
but what He sees the Father do; for
whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. § I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. § My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Those who are called, sanctified by God the Father. § Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. § The fullness of Him who fills all in all. § I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. § This is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. § Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
John 5:19; Prov. 2:6; Luke 21:15; Ps. 27:14;
2 Cor. 12:9; Jude v. 1; Heb. 2:11; Jer. 23:24;
Eph. 1:23; Isa. 43:11; John 4:42; Titus 1:4
