Gaining self control

[xxJILLxx]

I would like to discuss one of the fruits of the Spirit self control

2 Peter 1:5-7 - "In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone." (NLT)

Facing temptation is never easy, and it is likely that Potiphar's wife was fairly tempting for Joseph. A loyal man, Joseph had been prosperous in Potiphar's house, and he was trusted implicitly by Potiphar.

What a temptation Joseph faced when Potiphar's wife threw herself at him. Yet, instead of giving into an affair with her, he chose to run away. He refused her over and over again, until one day he left his cloak behind, and she turned and accused him of trying to rape her.

Potiphar, believing his wife, had Joseph placed in jail, where he found favor in the eyes of the prison warden. From there, and through Godly circumstances and intervention, Joseph eventually went on to become the highest official in Egypt at the time.

His actions were always defined by his relationship and faith in God. When he turned down Potiphar's wife, it was with the words, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

We can all learn lessons from Joseph's self-control. It is so easy today to give into the temptations that ChristianS face. Sometimes it is actually harder work to walk away from temptation than to give into it.

However, God rewards your self-control. Look at Joseph. While he spent a number of years in prison and as a slave, eventually he rose to the highest appointed position in Egypt and even found his family once again.

The call is not for the believer to abandon himself to God. Rather he is called to responsible, thoughtful, willful obedience. Our commitment to Christ should not be presented as self-abandonment but self-control.

Let no one resent the call to strength, to personal responsibility, to self-control, to temperance, to careful living. Do not let the call to prosperity lure you into the expectation of easy victories.

Strong sons and daughters of God are not perfected by childish pursuits. You are responsible,