Break free

We say we want to “treat” ourselves with an indulgence of something. But is it really a treat if it is harming you? Of course the enemy wants you to want what harms you so whatever that “treat” is will bring you great amounts of pleasure. Temporarily. Then you feel the pain of it.

So, are you really treating yourself by harming yourself? Is it really a celebration if it first feels good but then bad later? Is that really a treat?

The enemy sees you do something good and convinces you to harm yourself as a reward.

Hmmm.

Yet, discipline doesn’t always feel good in the moment but you get to set your eyes on the joy ahead of you.

Therefore, our choices are:

The enemy’s way:

Enjoy a temporary pleasure while dreading what it will do to us later. A punishment disguised as a reward he convinces us that we deserve. All the while becoming more and more weak and enslaved to this cycle of punishment (sin) the longer we stay in it.

Or

God’s way:

Temporary suffering for the joy set before us that is eternal. Joy that we get to hold on to even during suffering. All the while becoming stronger and gaining more freedom from sin the longer we stick with it.

Hebrews 12:2 1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

Just ask

I dont want to be free to sin. I want to be free from sin. That is the difference between simply believing in Christ and following Him. To just believe Christ is real and died for our sins but not create a relationship with Him and allow Him to change you is to remain enslaved in your sin. A sin that lies to you and says “This is freedom. Come walk this way.” But if you look back at following your sin what do you see? Peace, love and comfort or destruction, choas, and confusion? When we decide to follow Jesus, not only does He become our salvation from an eternity in hell but He also becomes our salvation from sin here on earth. He reconciles us with God, renews our spirit, and creates a clean heart in us. Will we still struggle with sin? Yes, we were born with a sin nature. But we dont have to be condemned, shamed, and enslaved by it. Once we have a relationship with Jesus then we have an advocate, a warrior, a slayer of sin on our side. He will start to transform our hearts so one by one our sin is slain and done away with. Through grace and mercy Jesus has won for us we are able to walk free. Truly free. The fruits of the spirit start to grow in us. Then we start to plant seeds in others. This is the love of Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus but want to know how to have a real relationship with Him? One that frees you from your sin and gives you a faith that saves? Ask me. Ask a trusted, mature Christian you may know. Find a church and ask the pastor. Most important, ask Jesus. Just ask.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”