Summer Fruit Devotion: Self-Control Day 2

Of the Heart

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” Titus 1:5-11

It is not unreasonable to hope people who serve God will behave as people of God. Our church leaders should be examples to us, just as we set an example for our families. Titus didn’t appointed these elders and then demanded they behave, they were chosen to lead because the Spirit had already been obviously working in their lives. Titus wasn’t supposed to appoint people who were doing their own will, he was to use wisdom and appoint men who were willing to live and serve according to God’s will. So what’s the deal with the “circumcision party?” They were upsetting believers by teaching that the Gentiles needed to be circumcised, in addition to following Christ, to be accepted by God. Romans 2:28-29 says, “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” It’s the same thing Jesus explained in Matthew 5. Maybe you don’t murder but if you hate in your heart you are guilty. Maybe you don’t commit adultery but if you lust in your heart you are guilty. Who can live up to this? The ones who are surrendered to the Spirit with hearts circumcised by the Spirit. Self-control is not just a matter of the body, but of the heart, and is accomplished by the Spirit, not more rules to follow.

Journal time. How’s your heart?

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father, thank you that the sacrifice of Christ is all we need to cleanse us from sin. Help us to live in a way that honors that sacrifice. Thank you for your Spirit in us. Thank you for giving us new hearts with new desires to love and serve you and your people. Help us to be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. In the name of your holy Son, Jesus, we pray, Amen.