Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Self-control”
Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Be a person of action.”
There are two sides to self-control – doing what you’re supposed to do, and then not doing what you shouldn’t do. That means that you take action when action is needed, and you restrain yourself when it is restraint that’s called for. Yesterday we began exploring the action side of self-control and I want to continue doing so today and again tomorrow.
In his wonderful little book, “The Traveler’s Gift” author Andy Andrews offers us seven decisions which, if you accept and act upon them, can change the course of your life and lead you to success you would not have experienced otherwise. I love this book for multiple reasons. First, it is Biblically based. All seven of the principles are solidly Biblical. Second, it’s a fun book. It’s a quick and easy read that’s interesting and entertaining. And the third reason I like it so much is that it’s an inspiring story.
In the book David Ponder is a middle-aged man whose life is a train wreck and he needs help badly. So God takes him on a little journey through time which involves David making seven stops in history. At each stop he has a one-on-one encounter with a historical figure who offers him a piece of advice which has the potential to be life-changing. Each of these pieces of advice is one of the “seven decisions” that can change your life.
At stop number three David encounters the real Civil War hero Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Colonel Chamberlain is remembered for being a courageous man of action throughout his entire life. Consistently he evaluated the situation before him, made the best decision he could, and then took bold and decisive action. He was a man of action, and that was his advice to David – “Be a person of action”.
Here are two affirmations David ended up making for himself as a result of the advice and inspiration he received from Colonel Chamberlain:
“Beginning today, I will create a new future by creating a new me. No longer will I dwell in a pit of despair, moaning over squandered time and lost opportunity. I can do nothing about the past. My future is immediate. I will grasp it with both hands and carry it with running feet. When I am faced with a choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act! I seize the moment. I choose now.”
“When faced with a decision, many people say they are waiting for God. But I understand, in most cases, God is waiting for me! He has given me a healthy mind to gather and sort information and the courage to come to a conclusion … Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly.”
In 1 Peter 1:13 the Apostle Peter urged us to do this same thing. He instructed us to use our minds to think things through and then to take action.
I encourage you to be a person of action. On this side of the self-control issue, we have to actually do something. More on this tomorrow.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 