Topic: Self-Government by Tony Evans Ministry – The Urban Alternative 4 JANUARY   2023

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Self-Government

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. – (Revelation 20:11)

Self-government means self-control of your attitudes and actions apart from external coercion. To govern yourself properly is the foundation for personal leadership. It is also the building block upon which every other form of government rests, since those who cannot govern themselves cannot properly govern others.

God’s ultimate goal for you is for you to govern yourself underneath Him. Th is because one day you will give an account to Him individually. The Bible says in Romans 14:12, “Each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Jesus said that at His return, “[I] will then repay every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27). Peter also said that each of us will give an account to God and be judged accordingly (see 1 Peter 4:5). In fact every person, including the unrighteous, will give an account to God (see Revelation 20:11–15).

When you stand before God, your family can’t come along with you to support you. You can’t call the elders or deacons at church to help you out. When you stand before God, you will not be able to call on the governor, the mayor, the city council, or anyone else to plead your case. You will stand alone before Christ to account for the way you governed your life under Him.

If you are going to live life the way life was meant to be lived in God’s kingdom, you must learn to govern your life according to His rules. Personal responsibility demands self-governing.

When people lose the ability to govern themselves, they mess up the institutions God has created to help them in all areas of life. Yet when people know how to correctly govern themselves, they can also govern within the other spheres in a way that promotes personal freedom. In fact, self-government is the cornerstone to the meaning of freedom. Freedom is the release from illegitimate bondage so that you can pursue experiencing what God created you to be.

Reflection: Are there any areas of life in which you’ve been making excuses that you “have to” do something that you know is wrong because someone else expects it? Self- control is a fruit of the Spirit, not of self-effort, but we are not to sow to the flesh but to the Spirit. How do we reconcile these two truths? Where have you indulged your flesh when you should have shown self-control?

One day I will stand before You, Lord, and give an account to You for the choices in my life. Help me to keep that reality at the forefront of my mind so that I will seek to better please You in all that I say, think, or do.

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