Self-Control (The Fruit of the Spirit in You)

Self-Control                                                                            Day 94

Love . . . is not provoked,

1 Corinthians 13:5

What some describe as love causes many people to react in a variety of ways. Some are positively motivated by love to care for others, to strive through difficult circumstances, and to endure all types of challenges. Meanwhile, others negatively react according to their pride, vulnerabilities, or desire for control. They ultimately reveal their lack of self-control. Their emotions lead them astray such that they quickly become jealous, violent, or easily provoked.

Love that is easily provoked is love in theory, not love in practice. Being easily provoked reveals that we are not motivated by a love for others. It shows that we are simply using love as an excuse and tool to get what we want and to make ourselves happy, even if we must force others along. However, when we are not easily provoked, we can slow down and reveal that love is a consistent state of being, not just a behavior we engage in from time to time.

With self-control, we learn how to respond to each situation instead of just reacting. We take the time to respond to others with a loving state of mind and with loving attitudes. When love is our true motivation, we eventually learn to react with a pure, self-controlled love.

Let us commit ourselves to learning love as an instinctive reaction, when we might otherwise be provoked. With self-control, we can learn to love continuously, rather than just performing individual nice acts. God’s constant reaction to us is love. Let us exercise self-control and be more like Him.

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