Read chapter 5
Most of us have heard of these fruits of the Spirit, but have you ever really dug deep into each one? The verse just before the fruits of the Spirit list the contrasts of the works of the flesh:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like (vv.19-21)This chapter five of Galatians is contrasting living inline with the Spirit verses the flesh. And one of the fruits I constantly struggle with bearing is self-control. Beth Moore describes in her Bible study Living Beyond Yourself,
The key to self-control is the refusal to allow our enemies (the flesh, the world, or Satan) to rule or hold us captive in any way. What does “self” have to do with the issue of “control”? Christ has given us the victory over our flesh, our world, and our accuser. Only self can re-extend authority to one of these three enemies. They cannot presume authority over us. In the life of a believer, they can rule only where they are invited. Self makes the choice over the issue of control. The Spirit-led self holds the power of five key words: “no,” “yes,” and “not right now.” Self-control is as much about saying “yes” and “not right now” as it is about saying “no.” Sometimes self-control is not about “what?” but “how much?” and not “when?” but “why?” Self-control is an issue of mastery, of authority, of boundaries. (Week 10 Day 1, page 201)Which fruit do you see flourishing in your life right now? Which one is barren? Which desire of the flesh are you letting have mastery over you?
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