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.
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