Overcoming Self

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (2 Cor 9:27). The listeners understood Paul’s words alluded to disabling contenders—a boxer hitting his opponent in the face or a wrestler tripping his. In both activities, the goal was to bring and keep down their opponent and acknowledge themselves conquered by the victor. The apostle considered his body an enemy he struggled with, always alert, keeping himself under subjection by strict discipline to remove any evil desires and tendencies to sin, lest he would be considered a worthless messenger of the Good News. He labored strenuously and endured hardships for the sake of the Gospel. His life showed he was a devoted servant of the Lord, whether alone, preaching to a few, in a crowd, or to royalty. We, like Paul, must struggle with and overcome the desires of our flesh. What do our lives and devotions demonstrate whether we’re home alone or with others? Oswald Chambers wrote in his book, My Utmost for His Highest, “My worth to God in public is what I am in private.”