Control and be controlled by Gary Rose

Control

Each day I listen to the news and listen to the rancor between the political parties. The topic changes daily, but the attitude of confrontation just intensifies. Many times, I think to myself: Have these people no control at all over themselves?  Sadly, NO!  There is no getting along for the sake of the country, only  party and individual gain. Self-centeredness  seems to have become a way of life in these United States of America.

Yet, we as human beings, DO  have a choice, we CAN decide to change our lives for the better!!! What is required to make changes? The will to honestly consider our situation and do something about it! 

I like the picture and its emphasis on what we CAN DO!!  But, some people will never realize these things and  avoid changing at all costs!!!  

Here is but one example from the Scriptures....

Acts, Chapter 24 (World English Bible) 

  ²²  But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”  ²³ He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.  ²⁴ But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.  ²⁵ As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”  (emphasis added)

The Fear of Felix

Felix, as governor,  was a man who had a lot of power.    However, he  seemed to lack back-bone.  When Paul reasoned with him,  Felix was terrified (vs. 25, above) and procrastinated. Why was he so terrified? My guess is that he remembered the

things he had done and was  frightened at the prospect of having to answer for his actions.   This guess may be true, yet there is another possibility: He  realized that in order to have saving faith he must acknowledge Jesus as King. To do this would put him at odds with the emperor and this may have scared him even more than the final judgment?  Whatever the  source of his procrastination, he  made his choice and that is that. One can only hope that later in life he had a little more self-control and eventually became a follower of Jesus!

Control of What???

Control of the flesh is my  answer. The attitudes and actions that lead a person to life a life that is contrary to the will of God.  In our culture we might say things like: "Go your own way", "Do your own thing" or "Whatever   floats your boat".   In short, some people will choose to live a life of Sin!!

What Sin?

Galatians, Chapter 5 World English Bible

 ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.  ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.  ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,  ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,  ²¹ envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

  ²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.  ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.  

The Lists

Two lists, one not-to-do (19-21) and the other one (22-25) to live by.  Simple, yet often hard to interpret in this modern world.    Yet, as spiritual beings in a physical world we are to grow up into Christ and make a reasonable understanding of these things.

Control and be Controlled

Bottom line- Live a life as close to that of what Jesus would do, today!  

Don't make excuses like Felix, take control over your life and let God take control of you. This worked in the first century and still does in the 21st. What can we control? Everything, even the things we cannot change; for we can change our attitudes!!!

Consider the following picture as my final thought...