Your own worst enemy

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” - Luke 9:23-24

Does the title make you think this column is about Satan? He is a formidable foe, but he is not your worst enemy. Maybe you thought of some person who would be delighted to do you harm and see you suffer. As troublesome as such people may be, I do not think they are my own worst enemy, or yours.

Is it possible that we are our very own worst enemy?

The unconquered self threatens spiritual life and health. More than Satan, more than the most

BETHLEHEM EAST BAPTIST CHURCH

MIKE McElroy Columnist

hateful person you know, when we have not surrendered ourselves to follow Jesus as Lord, we really are our own worst enemies. We harm ourselves deep in our hearts and souls, in a private place no other enemy can reach.

Our text reminds us that denying self is the first step of discipleship. We willingly give up self-direction. We follow Jesus by choice, not force. We do not follow perfectly. Like sheep, we are easily distracted and prone to wander.

This business of following

Bethlehem East Baptist Church will have all Sunday school classes beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning followed by regular service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.

CARRVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship.

Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting. Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jesus is not just an event in our past. It is instead a lifelong commitment that we renew each day, and really each moment of decision. It requires discipline and self-control.

The idea behind the Bible word for “self-control” is “having the strength to stay in place.” New Testament writers apply it to moral purity, anger management and controlling the tongue. It will govern our spending habits, our diet and how we use our time.

But why is the unconquered self my worst enemy, and yours, too? First the unconquered self competes with our first-place love for God. We’re supposed to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind (Matthew 22:37). But Paul warned of the danger of being a “lover of self” (2 Timothy 3:2). God will not