October 2: Matthew 16:24; 1 Corinthians 9:25–27; Galatians 5:22–23; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8; Titus 2:12–13; Mark 4:28; 2 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 10:17–18; Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 2:17–19; 2 Peter 3:18 - a podcast by Crossway

The fruit of the Spirit is… self-control.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.—Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober.—To renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:24 (Listen)

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 (Listen)

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,¹ lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

(ESV)

Galatians 5:22–23 (Listen)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

(ESV)

Ephesians 5:18 (Listen)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

(ESV)

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 (Listen)

6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

(ESV)

Titus 2:12–13 (Listen)

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

(ESV)

We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

“First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.”—Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.—When they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding…. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mark 4:28 (Listen)

28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 10:12 (Listen)

12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 10:17–18 (Listen)

17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

(ESV)

Ephesians 4:13 (Listen)

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,¹ to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

(ESV)

Ephesians 4:15 (Listen)

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

(ESV)

Colossians 2:17–19 (Listen)

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,¹ puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

(ESV)

2 Peter 3:18 (Listen)

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

(ESV)