Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
I don’t guess I could have picked two worse words to title this post with but all things considered, there was really no other way. The fact remains: Holy people exercise self-control.
If we are to be holy as God has commanded us to be holy, we must exercise self-control.
So how do we exercise self-control? James gives us the key:
James 3: 2 (NLT)
For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
Obviously, the first thing we must do is control our tongues. That sounds simple enough, right?
Wrong.
James 2:6 (NLT)
And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Wow.
What do we do with a thing like that? Paul tells us:
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
If we’re to gain control over our tongues and over hell itself, we must go to the Author of our salvation.
The Beginning and the End of our faith.
The One who has conquered hell and freed us.
Jesus Christ is what we do with a thing like that. We give it to Him.
Spend some time this morning asking God to take control of your tongue. Ask Him to use what was once set on fire by hell itself as a force for good. He can do it but don’t forget the most important part:
ONLY He can do it.
Exercise self-control.
