It’s cooler here today, the temperature. Where we live Fall (Autumn) is “in the air.”

I woke early and did some morning chores, walked a bit outside, and pondered the amazing Grace of God!

I recently read that the New Testament word “grace” is often matched by the Old Testament word “favour.”

God Almighty looking upon the likes of us … with favour! Surely dozens of adjectives apply!

But especially today, this cool Saturday morning, Lamentations 3 comes to mind. “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.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Grace … here divinely expressed as “mercies, compassions,” notice the plurals please!

A new day!

Fresh strength!

More opportunities to serve the Lord!

And hundreds of more “benefits!”

All expressions of God’s Goodness, Favour, Grace!

And they are indeed “new every morning!”

Let’s worship Him with all our being!

He is worthy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The dictionary says: “a term normally used of once fresh water which has become slightly salty, as is the mixture of river water and sea-water in estuaries.”

The word “brackish” actually has a German background, where “brac” means “salty.” If the water had been even saltier, it would have been called “briny.”

(I enjoy learning new words. A wholesome vocabulary is a Preacher’s friend.)

This reminds me of something James, our Lord’s half-brother wrote long ago in his little New Testament Epistle.

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. DOTH A FOUNTAIN SEND FORTH AT THE SAME PLACE SWEET WATER AND BITTER? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? SO CAN NO FOUNTAIN BOTH YIELD SALT WATER AND FRESH.” James 3:8-12, you will notice the capitalized words.

The Lesson today … let’s be consistent, faithful, steadfast for our Lord.

One old Preacher used to often say “THE GREATEST ABILITY IS DEPENDABILITY!”

Jesus, in Revelation 3, censured a Church (Laodicea) for being “lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.”

I do not want to be an “up and down, on and off, in and out” Christian!

Lord, help me not to be “brackish!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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My familiar Text Verse tonight is Hebrews 12:2 … “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

By the way, this verb is not a command, not here in our Bible! But it certainly is essential advice for anyone interested in growing to maturity in Christ.

The word actually seems pretty simple, “looking!”

But its etymology, its history, is quite informative.

It is a blend of two Greek words, one a preposition.

“Apo” and “horao,” again from the Greek of the New Testament.

It initially (and shockingly at first) means “to look away!”

Yes, “apo” means “away from.”

And “horao” means “to look,” especially with interest and purpose! Eagerly looking!

Now let’s combine the two halves of “looking unto” in our Hebrews 12:2 Text.

Here it is …

LOOKING AWAY FROM OTHER THINGS … THEN LOOKING INTENTLY TOWARD YOUR FOCUS!

Looking away from the world, from its distractions, from its trivia!

And looking intently toward the Lord Jesus Christ!

Good advice indeed!

Be occupied with Christ Jesus today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Verse is forthright, words from Jesus’ Mouth in fact.

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, RACA, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou FOOL, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:22

Do NOT call a man “raca.” In Greek it is literally spelled “raca,” though pronounced more like “rhak-ah,” accenting that second syllable. It means “empty,” and here the insinuation is “empty-headed!” One commentator suggests “blockhead.” (The noun “council” is “Sanhedrin,” the highest “court” in the land of Israel at that time.)

God, who created the human brain, does not take pleasure in anyone despising or mocking His work! Any man’s or woman’s brain, mind is a miracle!

Then our verse adds a warning about calling anyone a “fool.” (I suppose other than the people the Bible labels blatant “fools!” See Psalm 14:1, for example.)

The Greek here for “fool” is spelled “moros,” the very foundation for our English term “moron!” Clearly, the same principle applies as with “raca.”

God respects His work (including the human being) and does not allow it to be crassly, disrespectfully low-rated!

‘Hell fire” speaks for itself! It is obvious that the Lord assumes (trusts) that no real Chrisitan would ever use such language. Only sinners, candidates for Hell anyway, would peak such language!

Let us all be warned today!

Use terms for fellow-humans that build up, not tear down, God’s crowing act of Creation!

Yes, humans are special in God’s eyes.

We are NOT mere animals!

“Be careful little tongue what you say!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It is remarkable the little “details” the Bible records. For example, Matthew 4:21 … “And going on from thence, he (Jesus) saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, MENDING THEIR NETS; and he called them.”

“Catching” fish, I understand.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, CASTING A NET into the sea: for they were fishers.” Matthew 4:18

But such little details, “mending” the nets, surprises me!

Of course, if someone does not mend the nets, soon no fish will be caught at all! “Torn nets” do not catch fish!

Obviously, it’s that little word for “mending” that has caught my eye.

It is spelled “katartizo” in Greek. It bends the preposition “kata” (simply intensifying the action) and the adjective “artios” (fitted, completed, specially prepared) … giving us a verb that carries the idea of something “perfected.”

Restoring useless nets to prime condition!

Now, let me show you “katartizo” in a few other New Testament situations, keeping in mind this basic definiton.

Of its 13 locations in the Bible (New Testament since it is a Greek term) 1 Corinthians 1:10 is a good Specimen. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER (katartizo) in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

No holes or rips in our fellowship as Believers!

The verb is especially poignant in Galatians 6:1. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, RESTORE (katartizo) such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Repair the “holes” in the person’s testimony, character, love for the Lord!

Can we have “holes” in our faith?

Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 thinks so! “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and MIGHT PERFECT (katartizo) that which is lacking in your faith?”

In the sense of making something “perfect” or ideally “complete” … Hebrews 11:3 illustrates: “Through faith we understand that the worlds WERE FRAMED (katartizo) by the word of God …”

Now, I will let you the reader apply this last occurrence in our short lesson … “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, MAKE YOU PERFECT (katartizo), stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

Apply it and live it!

Christians without “holes!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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