Saturday, December 3, 2022

 Reflection - Herbert Vander Lugt - Halfway Measures

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 21, "Halfway Measures", Page 26.
By Herbert Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bread Author


 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, desires and greed, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5
PHOTO: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, desires and greed, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5
Read: 1 Kings 20:26-43

It would have been unthinkable for Allied leaders to let Adolf Hitler surrender and then reinstate him as dictator of his country. But that's exactly what King Ahad did to Ben Hadad, an unspeakably cruel king who started two wars against God's people. Eventually, just as God's prophet predicted, Ahad was killed on orders from the very man he had spared (1 King 22).

This is not a lesson in how to treat enemies. Rather, Ahab's fatal example illustrates the danger of taking halfway measures in dealing with sin.

I know a man who has spent much of his life in prison because of violent crimes he did while drunk. When release, he starts out well because he avoids alcohol. But then he thinks he can drink in moderation. Soon, he's in trouble again.

Don't take halfway measures with dishonesty, lack of self-control, or sexual impurity. Instead, deal radically with your sinful tendencies and "put to death" your sinful inclinations (Colossians 3:5).

Don't put yourself in situations where you are likely to be tempted. Ask God to help you take a wholehearted approach to tackling sin. Halfway measures are doomed to fail.

To be moderate in sin is no more possible than to be moderate in death.
Picture posted by Culture Formations@Cultures_medias on 19 February 2017 at 05:20 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-zzNpYgwC7JjYbgLImMSnlZF7Lwi_UYxs3_nDHQFRtpVKuOop9F5sOk5Q1YLDW2mI69367lI0-MpYHgbrE48SSnczfnba7dfCmLdkZUvAnU6MliZwQVWUM4SYB9Slarw8SAWpqExCJYJiPUtwKYKETCful6GfPmUuYPiyMPCRhb0NRbIipTXFT_j/s4096/C44Rg9sVcAM_bGx.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C44Rg9sVcAM_bGx?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
https://twitter.com/Cultures_medias/status/833244737494740992


Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, desires and greed, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5
Read: 1 Kings 20:26-43
 

 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, desires and greed, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5
PHOTO: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, desires and greed, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5
Picture posted by mahmoud-fayed - Flying Soul
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj739_rN2VJxCFWvsDiOwUAhsxILh0GWOB0JPir4SnliFA8NhkkalyVbjLG3W2fle3wPmP5r1RbT75M7gnIt9bo_oMUxOkqDmrokMhe-xBdcqLUf8qwJIIZU7396ODth4MD9JnbDzA0Z2G4bZA8Il3C9C3IV3gWPTKfMner_vMjUg6gw1u_m6ruUXbv/s1639/flying_soul_by_mahmoud_fayed_daix4j0-fullview.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/efd1cca1-e87b-4ed1-9473-64dada6f901c/daix4j0-b41df97f-de7a-4317-9940-e339c9f96459.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_1639,q_75,strp/flying_soul_by_mahmoud_fayed_daix4j0-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTYzOSIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2VmZDFjY2ExLWU4N2ItNGVkMS05NDczLTY0ZGFkYTZmOTAxY1wvZGFpeDRqMC1iNDFkZjk3Zi1kZTdhLTQzMTctOTk0MC1lMzM5YzlmOTY0NTkuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEwMjQifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.h6pdieGLG9b5LpWw_R2Vr4k03eM0X3oPURjLytmqAvA
https://www.deviantart.com/mahmoud-fayed/art/Flying-Soul-636440364


It would have been unthinkable for Allied leaders to let Adolf Hitler surrender and then reinstate him as dictator of his country. But that's exactly what King Ahad did to Ben Hadad, an unspeakably cruel king who started two wars against God's people. Eventually, just as God's prophet predicted, Ahad was killed on orders from the very man he had spared (1 King 22).


 It would have been unthinkable for Allied leaders to let Adolf Hitler surrender and then reinstate him as dictator of his country.
PHOTO: It would have been unthinkable for Allied leaders to let Adolf Hitler surrender and then reinstate him as dictator of his country. But that's exactly what King Ahad did to Ben Hadad, an unspeakably cruel king who started two wars against God's people. Eventually, just as God's prophet predicted, Ahad was killed on orders from the very man he had spared (1 King 22).
Picture posted by Eugene H. Peterson, Devotionary - Elijah Denouncing King Ahab (Original) by Don Lawrence


 This is not a lesson in how to treat enemies.
PHOTO: This is not a lesson in how to treat enemies. Rather, Ahab's fatal example illustrates the danger of taking halfway measures in dealing with sin.
Picture posted by Christianity 201 on 21 January 2014
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkBghtwgKYRssXvV1eGHj3GbJ0254O5reHGBzIywJUUFnrSMY9oOq5umuWyxCXVqNVyy82pkGbMJUZgTUfZq8I7TiAfLIWfQpkkXf1D28lQ7SJNzoONVrLggqPFQKscch7Vmir4V0cIZD0r28nVtJTCavgnUgMhRvk1ploynrRf3FEgAqB21y9Xfr/s539/sin-kills-2.jpg
https://christianity201.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/sin-kills-2.jpg
https://christianity201.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/sin-kills/


I know a man who has spent much of his life in prison because of violent crimes he did while drunk. When release, he starts out well because he avoids alcohol. But then he thinks he can drink in moderation. Soon, he's in trouble again.


 A man who has spent much of his life in prison because of violent crimes he did while drunk.
PHOTO: A man who has spent much of his life in prison because of violent crimes he did while drunk. When release, he starts out well because he avoids alcohol. But then he thinks he can drink in moderation. Soon, he's in trouble again.
Picture posted by Dagmar Lamp on 13 October 2016 at 17:05
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuof-QN51Ar8VvtSqJrcxbMhfrgIw--h-BQhAVT4TMIkxHxmFh--EZOsxiKaheySBn-HJK0Kk6rv2MKzVOJNV7fKuNp4phXUi4BHs1Y2PkoaP35SFimVjPXC3Qr8AQBsB1S5oWFKxOwo8feMvs6CaCtYurOyjnflW_EyBl9kB6vx33sjZSNhOlp5G/s1026/5952421t1h528b.jpg
https://f9.pmo.ee/HpaMo4Ns1R_49L_W_xYYKB7MjbE=/685x0/nginx/o/2016/10/13/5952421t1h528b.jpg
https://naine.postimees.ee/3871463/uhe-eesti-naise-lugu-mul-on-olnud-kolm-vagivaldset-abielu


Don't take halfway measures with dishonesty, lack of self-control, or sexual impurity. Instead, deal radically with your sinful tendencies and "put to death" your sinful inclinations (Colossians 3:5).


 Don't take halfway measures with dishonesty, lack of self-control, or sexual impurity.
PHOTO: Don't take halfway measures with dishonesty, lack of self-control, or sexual impurity. Instead, deal radically with your sinful tendencies and "put to death" your sinful inclinations (Colossians 3:5).
Picture posted by  Metzgeron 29 September 2015


 Don't put yourself in situations where you are likely to be tempted.
PHOTO: Don't put yourself in situations where you are likely to be tempted. Ask God to help you take a wholehearted approach to tackling sin. Halfway measures are doomed to fail.
Picture posted by Robert Recker, Der Spiegel
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NnVZ_QQk_rv2lQn8e1l8OEdlmn1Mi5EJXhicCaifU7_wmO5ANwh84KFI54WdtQ-QGonFT1M1MnWuYO_juyRJxia4gDKw1KKP_DHf3-W8fDi_zBgjdB50Y5XkKf3zYTSrtNKkKFrKRTARhgfSj3xkRHC63jY5VmuBGhH4FyjuBynLKbOVEHLnf_wF/s2292/bece3c47-0001-0004-0000-000000714469_w1528_r0.6666666666666666_fpx50_fpy33.34.jpg
https://cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de/images/bece3c47-0001-0004-0000-000000714469_w1528_r0.6666666666666666_fpx50_fpy33.34.jpg
https://www.spiegel.de/spiegelgeschichte/bibel-die-komplexen-speisegesetze-des-alten-testaments-a-1005417.html


To be moderate in sin is no more possible than to be moderate in death.
 

Reflection - Herbert Vander Lugt - Halfway Measures
Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 21, "Halfway Measures", Page 26.
By Herbert Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bread Author



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Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 21, "Halfway Measures", Page 26.

Links


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