And what does that big word mean, dichotomous?

Literally (in Greek, its Language of origin) it means “cut” into “two” pieces!

Today in the so-called free world … to me from now on … everything will be (all the more pronounced) seen as “right” or “wrong.”

Is there any “Bible” for that, Preacher Bagwell?

Yes!

For starters … “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.” Psalm 97:10, the two great poles of life!

There it is!

Is this thought applicable today?

Certainly …

For example, abortion, if the Bible is right (and it is) … is evil! (Killing babies? Come on folks, surely there is no question among genuine Christians!)

So is any violation of the Levitical (Book of Leviticus) mores/standards on sexuality! Yes, sexual perversion (of any type) is evil!

Denying the Book of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 (God Creating the heaven and earth) … evil!

Not acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Son of God … evil!

And on and on and on …

For me, and I’m seeing it more clearly today than ever (especially regarding America) … God is right and man is wrong, evil!

Paul, say something to us along this line … “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4

Jesus now …“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24, from the Sermon on the Mount!

We are at war with evil … Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

You cannot simultaneously love God and evil!

One more verse … “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

The works of the devil … that is … EVIL!

We are progressively living in a evil Nation.

Christians, recognize the dichotomy please.

And respond accordingly!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Do remember there are “tares” in God’s “wheat” field as well. That’s why so many “religious” (but “lost”) people will disagree with my Article this morning.

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Paul said this of Jesus our Lord, when describing His coming to earth over 2,000 years ago … “He humbled Himself.” Philippians 2:8

He “bought Himself low!”

Made Himself plain!

Absolutely possessed no sinful pride!

And as Jesus lived, so are we to follow. Peter and James both agree …

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” 1st Peter 5:6

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord” James 4:10

Even Solomon … “Go, humble thyself.” Proverbs 6:3, good advice!

Notice the commonality here … “Humble THYSELF!” (Or “THYSELVES!”)

Today’s Lesson, I fear, is geared toward America, my Country.

Because Scripture is clear … if we do not humble ourselves … GOD ALMIGHTY IN HEAVEN WILL DO THE HUMBLING FOR US! HE WILL BRING US DOWN!

The United States is increasingly sinful and proud (the opposite of humble) and anti-Christian!

And the Lord, if He has not already started doing so … will humble us … just as He has promised.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

Jesus said: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased.” Matthew 23:12, in Greek “abased” here is the very verb “made humble!”

Let’s pray for our Nation as she votes today.

Oh, how we need to make a godly decision … lest God sooner rather than later HUMBLE US as a people.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

If you’re a true Bible Believer, please do not let anything keep you from casting your ballot in this election. Maybe the most crucial we’ve ever faced yet …

Jeremiah, in his Book known as Lamentations, proves the theorem I have just typed as our Lesson Title this morning.

Here are his words, as recorded by our King James Bible … “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” (Lamentations 3:21)

What can I possibly just “remember” and consequently have “HOPE?”

Well, let’s look at the initial verb first … “recall to mind.” Yes, it’s one short clause in Hebrew too … “shub leb.” Literally it means “to turn” one’s “heart” to some point of view, to some conviction, to some precious belief! The verb is pointed to suggest … “I caused my mind (heart) to turn!”

NUDGE YOURSELF TOWARD THE WORD OF GOD!

Though the noun “leb” means “heart” 508 times in the Old Testament and “mind” only 12 times … the translators here felt led to use the minority expression! (In Old Testament culture, a man thought with his heart as well as his mind.) Proverbs 23:7 proves such … “For as he THINKETH in his heart, so is he.”

And by the way, we DO have control over our minds, hearts … what we think!

Today’s Verse really says, gloriously says … IF YOU THINK RIGHT, YOU WILL HOPE RIGHT!

Now let’s discuss the resulting condition, to thinking or recalling the right things. “THEREFORE I have hope!”

This verb, “yachal,” means “to trust, to lean upon, to wait expectantly,” as well as “to hope.” All these definitions are synonyms anyway.

But what is the “this” to which Jeremiah alludes? “THIS I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

I advance it is the WORD OF GOD!

My proof Verse …

One of Paul’s goals for the Roman Christians … “That we through patience and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have HOPE.” Romans 15:4

Reading God’s Word seriously and meditatively might have more practical value than a trip to the Psychiatrist’s Office! Or the resultant trip to the pharmacy! (Unless there are other mitigating circumstances, of course.) HOPE is available from the Scriptures!

Oh, the very Scripture Jeremiah may have had in mind, that brought him such “hope” … immediately adjacent to his “I have hope” exclamation … “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I HOPE in him. The LORD is good unto them that WAIT (HOPE) for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both HOPE and quietly WAIT for the salvation of the LORD. “

Wow!

Add to that … Hallelujah!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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