Wednesday, September 26, 2012

September 27, 2012

Peter is making the case for spiritual maturity. I think it is a pretty strong case when he starts out by stating that God has given you EVERYTHING you need for godly living.
 
God placed those graces and virtues in you when you received Christ. Now it is up to you to develop - or work out what God has put in.
 
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control" II Peter1:5-6 
 
The point of having faith is to live it out in every day life. Otherwise, what good is it?
 
We have already considered the virtures of goodness and knowledge. Next is the rare virtue of self-control. Do you have it?
 
If people don't master self-control they often choose one of two other approaches to life:
 
Some choose self-dedication - living only by selfish motives to gratify desires and lusts. That is fine for infants and toddlers, but not so good for terrible two year-olds or adults.
 
This self-dedicated life-style often leads to another destructive way of dealing with life I call the self-medicated life.
 
Self-destructive behavior results in pain and brokenness. Some of the pain is self-inflicted and some results from the destructive behavior of others. When you have emotional, spiritual or mental pain, those hurts must be dealt with. How do you choose to soothe your pain? A bad choice can actually intensify the pain.
 
Some choose to self-medicate with "comfort food" and the more comfort they need the more food they eat.
 
Some self-medicate with alcohol and it the process become over-dependent on it or use too much.
 
Some self-medicate by spending money and buying things.Overspending and indebtedness creates more pain.
 
Pain is very real and unavoidable in life. Jesus experienced pain when He walked the earth. He understands pain! That is why He invited you, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
 
Have you taken a serious look at what is causing your pain?
 
How do you deal with your pain?
 
Is your "medication" of choice relieving your pain or deepening it?