“Know Thyself” (Pythian proverb on ancient temple in Delphi, Greece)
KNOW THYSELF
CONTROL THYSELF
BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE
That’s what I was hearing as I awakened just now.
Self-control (selfctrl) is also a ministry my young friend Ian has founded with his wife Hayley. It’s so needed and crucial to happiness and long-term joy. It means making decisions time and time again that make you who you are and who you want to be—who you choose to become.
If you get to know Jesus, that’s who you’ll choose to imitate. He’s the best!
Ian is my mentee. Well, that’s what he calls himself. I call him a friend. We have a lot in common, even though he’s younger than my son at about half my age. What we hold most in common, and most dear, is a love for Jesus and His ways.
I know Ian well. We went on a mission to Africa last summer and were roommates. The young church we went to support in Uganda was a loving community. But Africa was a hostile spiritual atmosphere, and meeting the challenge of spiritual warfare for the first time with a friend like Ian was a bonding experience. We’ve also spent more than a few hours sharing lives, struggles, and choices in the Old Pine coffee shop or my living room. I consider our friendship a treasure and look forward to knowing Ian even better as we encourage each other, pray for each other, and fight more spiritual battles—battles that are increasingly about self-control.
We live in a culture, country, and time where people are out of control. They have cast off restraint. They no longer believe or know that the person who exercises the most self-control enjoys God’s favor, long-term happiness, and a character worth having.
Self-control and these character traits can be experienced, won, and achieved by Practicing the Way. That’s the name of the new book by John Mark Comer. It’s also the practice of Jesus’ followers throughout the centuries—our ancient-future faith’s habits, rhythms, and disciplines. It’s a way of living life above the fray. It’s spending time with the Master daily so you can focus on the most important issues—those of character—and experience the power of His Spirit to help you as you go.
I’m going to pour a cup of coffee and read my Bible now. Godspeed to you on your journey, and happy Labor Day!
“As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.”
(Psalm 42:1 NIV)
“Take my [Jesus’] yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
(Matthew 11:29)
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
(Mark 8:36 KJV)
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
(Galatians 5:22-23a)
