Morning
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control.
Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober. § Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Gal. 5:22–23; 1 Cor. 9:25–27; Eph. 5:18;
Matt. 16:24; 1 Thess. 5:6–8; Titus 2:12–13
Evening
Grow up in all things into Him
who is the head – Christ.
First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. § Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
They, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise … But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
The substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Eph. 4:15; Mark 4:28; Eph. 4:13;
2 Cor. 10:12, 17–18; Col. 2:17–19; 2 Peter 3:18
