GOD’S GIFTS
66 1
must not quarrel, but be gentle to all.” “Be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility.”2 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. … The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”3 If this sounds easier said than done, don’t worry. God can help you to be more like Jesus in this respect, too, if you will let His Holy Spirit work through you.
The liberating fruit—self-control Paradoxical as it may seem, the secret to selfcontrol—or temperance, as it is translated in the King James Version—is giving up control. It’s in yielding to God and letting His Holy Spirit take control of your thoughts, your actions and your life. We need to do our part, of course. We need to put up some resistance when temptation comes knocking, and we need to work on strengthening our weak areas. But the fact of the matter is we all sometimes fall prey to temptation, give in to our personal weaknesses, and overindulge in some things that would be fine in moderation. The Apostle Paul could have been speaking for us all when he wrote: I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t. 1
2
2 Timothy 2:24.
GodsGifts_2ndPrint.p65
66
Titus 3:2.
3
James 3:13,17.
12/19/2000, 11:36 AM