Summer Fruit Devotion: Self-Control Day 3

Train the Young

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Titus 2

Who needs self-control? Older men, older women, young women, young men. Basically everyone. The older men and women are told to train and urge the younger men and women, among other good things, to be self-controlled. When we begin life as babies we have no self control. Our limbs don’t obey us, our voices don’t do anything but cry and coo, even our bodily functions don’t obey us. We learn from our parents, as we mature, to walk and speak words, and use the toilet. As Christians we also learn as we mature, from seasoned saints, how to walk in love, how to speak words of kindness, how to be self-controlled. It is the grace of God that saves us and also trains us. If we live as if we are “waiting for our blessed hope… Jesus” then we have no need to get drunk, have affairs, neglect our families, argue and steal. By maturing the spiritual fruit of self-control we “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior,” and then it’s our turn to train others.

Journal time. The older teaching the younger is another way of saying “make disciples.” Age doesn’t necessarily matter but maturity does. Where are you on this spectrum? Most of our lives we do both, teach and learn, at the same time. Do you have mature saints encouraging and mentoring you in the Word? If not, who can you ask? Who has God put in your sphere of spiritual influence? Are you encouraging them to mature in the Gospel? Are you setting a good example?

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace that appeared bringing salvation. We are so grateful for the blessed hope that someday we’ll see our Savior Jesus! We so look forward to it. In the meantime, Holy Spirit, help us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Let us be good examples, train the young, and be mature so we can adorn your Gospel and share your love and grace to all people. In the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.