Disciplining ourselves for God's purposes in a distraction-filled digital world.
Imagine trying to love without having any self-control.
Now prayerfully consider that right now, and at every moment of every day, God's love is being poured into your heart. The Holy Spirit is a constant presence, renewing your capacity to live for him.
But demonstrating self-control online is difficult.
One challenge we face is that many internet services want instant, quick, repeated engagement. Teams of psychologists study "user" behavior to identify what colors, designs, and features will hook image bearers into habitual participation. In one study, about 25% of adults reported being "near-constant internet users."
(This is one reason the Uncommon Pursuit community is closed to new comments on the weekends. We want to break the habit of being online all the time).
The good news? A community filled with self-controlled participants will be radically distinctive!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God's law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings. Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
How does self-control enable us to relate to different kinds of people?
Compare and contrast the ancient athlete with the Christian race through life.
How will you personally benefit from becoming more self-controlled?
Have you ever seen someone be out of control online? What were the consequences? What internal emotions indicate that you need to take a break from a conversation?
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