Sunsets (sunrises too) can be so beautiful!

But I think they may be earthly phenomena … to be enjoyed temporarily. And no, that’s not science fiction. It’s Bible …

In John’s description of New Jerusalem, our future eternal home … he’s quite specific. “For there shall be no night there.” Revelation 21:25

I really suspect the Very Glory of God (called His Shekinah Glory) will be the Light of that resplendent City!

Then Scripture teaches us even more in Revelation 22:5 … “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light.”-

So, I think … no more sunrises or sunsets.

Jesus will outshine, will out-beautify them all!

Our Lord’s Prayer in John 17:24 will be answered. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY, which thou hast given me.”

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Holy Scriptures contain many prayers. In fact, our Bible can in some ways be called a “Prayer Book.”

But as I was studying early this morning I again came across Psalm 109:26. It is one of those “short” little petitions.

“Help me, O LORD my God.”

That’s it!

Short indeed!

And I’d like to announce that God not only answered that prayer of from King David’s heart three thousand years ago … He is still answering it today!

“Help me, O LORD my God.”

Earlier in the Psalm we learn something of David’s plight … “I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”

Is anyone reading here this morning “poor and needy?” Has one of you been “wounded?”

Then … try this approach … “Help me, O LORD my God.”

That verb “help” is spelled “azar” in Hebrew and means “to give succour.” In fact, it is translated exactly that way three times in the King James Version.

But nowadays we do not use that verb, “succour.” So exactly what am I asking God to do?

“Succour” has a Latin background and means “to run!”

You have asked the Creator/Redeemer God to “come running” to you in time of need!

And such a request is, apparently, pleasing to His Ears!

After all, He is the great God Who invites us … “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.” Jeremiah 33:3

I’ve written enough … let’s pray!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Verse today is Isaiah 55:3 … “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.” Certainly, the Lord Himself is the Speaker here.

The noun “ear” and the verb “hear” naturally occur as a pair quite often. The “thing” (we all have two of them, ears) is built for the stated purpose, activity … “hearing.”

Now let me lay Paul’s great Verse alongside … “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

It looks like God places a lot more emphasis on “hearing” than any of the other senses He created in us. (Though clearly He does not ignore taste, or sight or touch or even smell.)

But what is it the Lord would have us “hear?”

And my answer, undoubtedly, is HIS WORD!

Even in the oft repeated command of Revelation chapter 2 and 3 … “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith” … is predicated on the Word of God! (The Holy Spirit having inspired every single word in Scripture. The Holy Spirit today speaking in and through God’s Word. Dozens and dozens of times in the Bible!)

My point today … be a person of the Word!

Love it, study it, meditate upon it, obey it!

And in so doing, guaranteed, you will “hear” the Voice of God and as a result … “live!”

Really live … “live,” as Jesus promised, “abundantly!”

I’m alluding to John 10:10 … “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Listen to God’s Word as it is preached, taught, read, discussed, and any other way you can ingest it.

Now … let me end our little devotional right where we began, listening to God … through His Word … “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.”

As they used to say back in the old CB radio days, “Have you got your ears on?”

Listen to God today … through His Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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This is just a part of Psalm 24:1, but it’s enough for this morning. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof.”

I think David is preaching here that, ultimately, everything belongs to God! The earth and everything in it!

If we Christians could view life that way … we would surely be more “thankful” for everything God “loans” us!

I head of a man who prayed one day right before eating a meal. He uttered words like these: “Thank You Father for letting us breathe Your air! Thank You too Father for letting us eat Your food!”

That’s the idea.

Think of this next time you’re about to give an offering unto the Lord, supporting your Church or that missionary you love so dearly … “O Lord, all things come of Thee, and of Thine Own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 24:14

It was God’s in the first place. We’re just giving it back to him!

And if you’re reading these lines thinking that you’re so wealthy you don’t need any help in this particular area … “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.” No wealth, without God’s giving it, directly or indirectly! (I just quoted Deuteronomy 8:18.)

Listen to God Himself, unashamedly claiming it “all.” (He is the Creator, you know!) “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Yes, the earth and all its content … God’s property!

So basically we Christians are “borrowers,” not owners. James of course was right: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”

Today as you pray … thank God for what is already His … just “on loan” to you!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, take good care of God’s property! He just might hold us accountable for doing so.

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Her name, this young Mother, is Leah. She’s the wife of Jacob, the Jacob whose name God eventually changed to “Israel.”

“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name JUDAH.” Genesis 29:35

Actually with the birth of little Judah, Leah now has born her husband four sons! (Reuben, Simeon and Levi, being the other three.)

My point today is simple, though I fear controversial.

When the son she named Judah was born, she praised the Lord! (And incidentally, in the Hebrew language that names means exactly that, “PRAISE!”)

Babies are gifts from God.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3

Note … I am not recommending having twelve children if your Wife is in poor health. Or if you’re going to have to raise them all at taxpayer expense. The Bible does say we men are to provide for our families (not beg for our families), otherwise we have sinned!

Do you question that? “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8

But I’m drifting from my emphasis.

Leah REJOICED at the birth of Judah.

Many so-called Mothers today think (rejoicing being the last thing on their minds) … think only of “abortion” when they learn of a pregnancy.

And that horror (abortion) is certainly available in America and has been now (in some degree) since 1973. Though the current administration has proposed broadening (loosening) the abortion laws!

What do they mistakenly call it … “pro-choice?” (Do remember the devil is a liar! John 8:44)

A little baby … praise or murder?

Which response do you think pleases God?

God, the Giver of life!

I’m through now.

Leah rejoiced!

But ____________________ participated in murder! (Place the name of any liberal, at times immoral, woman in this sinful contemporary world who opts to surgically, chemically end the life of a precious little baby, growing in her body.)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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