Yesterday I made a quick trip into our local Dollar General. Every small town in America has one. The young woman working behind the counter was short in her response and very unfriendly. The look on her face yelled confrontation. In my younger years I would have snapped with something about her lack of personality and perhaps she should be a CPA where personality is not required:) I left the store and stewed on it off and on the rest of the day. This morning as I was reading scripture I was reminded of the the fruit of the spirit, specifically self control. What a sad witness I would have been to snap and get something started. A sad witness to her and other customers in the store. Especially if they knew my testimony on God’s goodness.
It is easy to be drawn into the world. It is easy to want at times to be like the world. The flesh beckons at every turn. Self righteous thoughts enter the brain from every direction. This is pride. It is better to recognize it and resist it with the help of the Holy Spirit then to give in to it and be admonished by that same Holy Spirit. Always choose life. Always choose Christ. Always choose submission to the Holy Spirit. Be truly courageous.