Titus 2:2 “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love and in endurance… Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.” Winston Churchill once said that any conservative below 30 has no heart, and any liberal above 30 has no brain. In a year that sees elections in both my home country of the United States, and my adopted home in Singapore, it’s been interesting to reflect on how some of my views have evolved, and also to notice what has stayed the same. In Titus 2, Paul has a list of recommendations to for older men, and then for younger men. The one commonality across both lists is self-control, or in Greek “sophroneo”. The flesh is weak, and no matter how old and wise one gets, controlling one’s urges stands paramount in the fight to get closer to God. Due to a busy roster of calls most Tuesday mornings, I find myself struggling to create the space to really experience God. From holding off on the urge to answer an unimportant message, to resisting the inviting social feeds that begged to be scrolled, temptations large and small abound. Lord today I feel you reminding me that self-control is timeless. I put you first today and thank you for blessing me with your presence. You are with me, and you give me the strength to live from the Spirit, and not from the flesh. I love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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