Everything is pulling for our attention.  Especially now with internet.  It calls to us to come, expore, learn.  Then there’s people and work and problems.  SO MUCH.

Then when we open the book of Titus, there is a theme that jumps out 5x in 3 chapters.

• Titus 1:8
  Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
• Titus 2:2
  Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
• Titus 2:5
  to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
• Titus 2:6
  Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
• Titus 2:12
  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Titus is being instructed in how our relationships work.  And the one thing that comes through in almost every circumstance is the instruction to be self-controlled.  What are we to choose to avoid even though our flesh desires?

• It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions (2:12)
• At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another (3:3)
• not live unproductive lives (3:14)
• slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone (3:2)

Many things are pulling us.  There is ungodliness, worldly passions, pleasures, lack of productiveness (how about those hours of mindless videos on the phone) and more.

Just yesterday I had meant to devote myself to prayer.  Instead I found myself diving down the rabbit hole of social media, learning new things.

Two days ago I meant to say no to some food that was not needed.  I said yes.

Every day I find myself scrolling on my phone, hours on end, only to wonder how much time went past.  I get that report on the phone and think, did I really spend that much time on social media?  But it was good stuff that was helpful, wasn’t it?

Self control is making sure I say no to good things, to choose the greater things.

It means protecting my time with the Lord.

And not just my time, but my mind.  My mind can be so cluttered and squirrel-like that it becomes hard to concentrate.  And it’s because I am not practicing self-control

It means protecting not just my actions, but my thoughts towards purity.    Much harder.

Self-control is not a message we want to hear.  We would rather make excuses and say we are tired, we are hungry, we are frustrated with the things of the world, we need our rest, we need our escape, we…

We want to justify our lack of self-control.  That somehow the second-best choices are more necessary.

I am not one to sit here and say how we should fix these things.

On the contrary, I’m here to repent.   Anybody with me?