Self-Control

Galatians 5:22,23

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

Just as love is the foundation of spiritual character, self-control is the outcome of spiritual maturity. A Christian who has applied all of the other fruits of the Spirit to his life will have already started to live with temperance and control.  This refers to controlling one's self from sin, dietary practices, use of the days God gives him, personal desires, etc. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 we are told, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." Since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should strive to keep it healthy in diet and cleanliness, not abuse it with damaging substances, and keep it pure from the lusts of the flesh. 

We are also commanded to live our days in wisdom and remember that our time on earth is brief and should be used for the glory of God - Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

God desires that we keep the proper perspective on our lives - God must come first in all we do, and He is the foundation that we live upon; we must spend quality time with our family both at home and church and not forget to pray daily for them; and to remember what we were put on earth to do - We are to live our lives by the example Christ set before us, have love for the lost and be obedient to the Father. Our lives are to be a continuing testimony of the salvation brought by Christ so that the lost in this world may come to know Him. Let us live according to Christ's command to the church...

Matthew 28:18-20

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen."