I recently wrote about self-control is used to avoid the trappings of lust and this morning I read in 2 Peter of the willful entering into the trapping.
“10and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,” — 2 Peter 2:10 (ESV)
There is a lot that goes into the full passage here in 2 Peter, this verse was the basis of my study this morning and really spoke to me of the choice I have each day and in all situations. Again God provides what I need when I need it. He brought me to this passage to extend on the self-control learning from my recent writing.
Here we see the relationship between self-control and a choice. If I have the ability to control myself and avoid the trappings of lust, I also have the choice to avoid lust and not allow myself to enter into that trapping. I know, they sound the same and as I write I know that. Stay with me.
I have choice in life. I have the choice of right and wrong. I have the choice to wear blue or red. I have the choice to mow the grass or pay someone. I have the choice to long after something destructive or something that brings glory and honor.
See what I did there (or maybe not). I have the choice of lust. It not something that is just innate and a part of me. I choose my own actions. God gave me free will and that includes the ability to choose. I have the choice to willfully act against that which is best, and lust is certainly not that. I have the chance each day to choose God over my own desires. I have the chance each day to choose to do His will or go it on my own. I have the choice to bring the gospel to the world or bring my own desires.
Too often I see that people shuck the blame for their own actions and either throw the blame on another person. They will claim that it was some inability to control the situation and they are somehow the victim, when they were the one that created the situation. This is simply the excuses of those not realizing that they have and made a choice and are now looking to somehow remove the consequences of the choices that were made.
We have a choice to make at every moment of the day. That choice is ours and we are responsible for that choice and by extension, the consequences that come with that choice. Sometimes those consequences are positive, and others times, not so much. The choice is yours as are the consequences that go with them.
What choices are you making in your own life? Are you falling into the trappings of lust by choosing that destructive path? What if you stepped back, understood that you have free will, thanks to God and chose to honor Him with your work instead?
Trevor's Thoughts 