March 11, 2010 - Acts 12:14

“When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’” Acts 12:14.
After Peter was set free from the jail by an angel sent from God, he walked to a home where he knew the followers of Jesus would be meeting. Upon knocking at the door, a servant girl responded. She was so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she ran to tell the others the great news, instead of letting Peter into the house. In her excitement, this young lady left her brain at the door and ran to tell everyone the news. They didn’t believe her, but Peter kept knocking until they answered and were astonished to find Peter standing there.
There have been times when, in my excitement over something, I left my brain at the door. In my reaction to the event, I do not exhibit much, if any, self-control. In most cases, such as with the slave girl in this verse, there is no damage done. But it could have been much worse for Peter, as well as for all of those in the household. And it could be a bad situation for me if I do not exhibit self-control. This fruit of the Spirit (from Galatians, chapter 5) is an important quality to receive, and to develop. Most of us are not necessarily born with self-control. It needs to be continually worked into us by the Holy Spirit. It’s not one of the “glamorous” fruit, such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace,” but it is an essential one for many areas of our lives, and it is a discipline that will make a big difference in our time of need.
Questions to consider: Have you been in a situation when you wish you had more self-control? What are you doing to encourage or develop this fruit of the Spirit in your life?
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for modeling for me a life that exemplified self-control. Give me a heart that is able to receive a deepening of this spiritual fruit in my life. Amen.