Daily Devotional

Temperance - also known as self-control. Thayer defines temperance as the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.

People who cannot control themselves lead unbalanced lives. A person who cannot control his diet becomes gluttonous. A person who cannot control his finances has too many holes in his pocket that he cannot mend. A person who cannot control what his eyes see walks in the path of adultery and covetousness. A person who cannot control his hands becomes a thief.

It is so much easier practicing the fruit of love, joy, patience, meekness and gentleness, but we always so often forget to practice self-control. The Bible talks about Gods children believing that He is a rewarder of them that "diligently" seek Him.

Diligence talks about being steady; not carelessly and not negligently. You have to be steady; unmoved — you have to be able to control your life when the world throws its attacks at you.

The world justifies the lack of temperance, "We only live once. Be compulsive. If it feels right, it is right." But to God, temperance is as important to a Christian as showing love and mercy to other people is. Do you have your life under control?

2 Peter 1 says, "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Practice temperance, and fulfil your knowledge in Christ.