In Paul’s opening paragraph to the Book of Colossians he mentions three of his favorite spiritual graces.

They are … Faith and Love and Hope! In that order, I might add.

Now, watch the “direction” toward which he points each of these qualities.

FAITH in Christ Jesus!

LOVE to all the saints!

Then HOPE that is, Paul’s words, “laid up for us in Heaven!”

See Colossians 1:3-4 for the Bible background here.

In my Christian life, “hope” is by far the least emphasized, the weakest, of these three!

If my Hope is in Heaven … I should be able to handle life’s difficulties much better.

Suffering here!

Rewards there!

Let me illustrate this truth from Romans 8:18, Paul again! “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Sufferings (Paul pluralizes the word) now!

Glory (part of our Hope) later!

Stated as a principle … Hope puts one in the mindset of being willing to sacrifice the present on the altar of the future!

Another way of saying it … The world says “Buy now, pay later!” But real Christianity says, “Pay now, reap later!”

Paul even once used the term “Blessed Hope!”

Moses practiced this … “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

He willfully chose hard times … looking ahead with hope for that promised reward!

It might be good if we all complained less and hoped more!

We really do not know all that glorious Hope entails, but this much is for sure … it will not be disappointing!

Hopefully …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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My “go-to” verse proving us Christians are now bought by our Lord Jesus, that we are His property … is found in the Book of 1st Corinthians. But it’s a negative approach to the subject. “Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a Price.” (That Price being the precious Blood of Jesus! According to 1st Peter 1:18-19.)

I have today found a positive way of expressing that same Truth. A new way to say an old thing!

Still in 1st Corinthians … “Ye are Christ’s.” That plain! (But not all that simple!) The Name or Title “Christ” used here speaks of Jesus as Messiah! Jesus as God’s perfect Prophet, Priest and King! The Name is also grammatically framed in the genitive case, as a Proper Noun. That’s another way to show possession!

I BELONG TO HIM!

PERIOD!

In Matthew chapter 20, one of Jesus’ least familiar Parables, a landowner asks this question to a group of grumbling servants … “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?”

My point?

If we belong to Jesus … His “will” must be paramount in our lives! To do with us what He wishes, pleases!

I just last night read the following sentence, not knowing I would be writing this particular Article (Devotional) this morning … “Submit to nothing but the will of God!”

Do not submit to fear or temptation or some current fad or political correctness or anything else. This list could be endless!

Yield yourself to the One Who “owns” you!

Does that sound distasteful to you? Like some form of slavery?

Call it what you will … but it is in reality basic Christianity.

“Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth!” (1st Samuel 3:9)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It is generally agreed that the Apostle Paul, in all his missionary journeys combined, would have traveled over well 10,000 miles during his earthly ministry!

Miles covered for Jesus’ Sake!

John Wesley, the famous circuit riding Preacher from England, traversed over 200,000 miles, preaching the Gospel!

Francis Asbury, in America, rode horseback around 270,000 miles, it is conservatively estimated. No telling how many sermons!

All these men were acting in obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Or more simply stated in Mark 16:16 … “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

In fact, all four Gospels and the Book of Acts as well relate this great Task of the Church! Pursuing this noble goal will accumulate some miles, I can assure you!

All this travel, all these miles, for a Man (Jesus, the Son of God) Who barely left the little nation in which He was born!

A Man Who Himself walked very few miles in comparison to His followers!

But the miles Jesus did walk were monumental!

I think primarily of that trek from the courtroom of Pilate to Calvary’s Brow! The WALK which led to the DEATH that changed the whole world forever! Yes, the shed Blood of the now resurrected Jesus can still wash away sin. It does so daily!

Hallelujah!

Oh, one more thing about Jesus and “miles.”

Something He taught, also revolutionary, life-changing!

Matthew 5:41 … “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

Here is the key to forgiveness!

The key to overcoming bitterness!

The key to turning an enemy into a freind!

The key to a more joyful life!

In reality … Jesus’ few “miles” propel us to travel our many miles for His Glory and Honor!

And were it possible, several vociferous AMENS would have just been heard! In response to that last statement.

From Paul and Wesley and Asbury and a thousand more traveling witnesses for Jesus!

HE IS WORTHY!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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When I was young a television program called “Dragnet” was broadcast weekly. A police story, it always began with these words, “This is the city, Los Angeles, California.”

Surely some of you friends will remember!

Well, in reading the Book of Proverbs a little while ago, I found this amazing verse … “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 11:11

Notice the two very different kinds of people mentioned in the verse. The “upright” and the “wicked!” The noun “upright” (spelled in Hebrew “yashar” and meaning “straight, righteous”) is dramatically contrasted with the “wicked” (in Hebrew spelled “rasha” and meaning “ungodly, guilty”).

That’s stark!

Now, watch the attributes linked to each type of person. The upright speak “blessing.” While the wicked speak “rebellion!” Yes, the verb “overthrown” means “to break down, destroy, ruin!”

Just words?

No, they have an impact on the environment! (Not the environment in a made-up “global warming” sense, but in a “where you live every day” sense.) A heavy impact in the cities where people live!

Look at the verse again … one city (where the upright are in preponderance) is exalted! It prospers! The other city (where wicked men have sway) does not prosper. In fact, it does not even continue to exist. It is destroyed, overthrown!

Wow!

And I read that American cities, many of them, are disintegrating before our very eyes! I’ve driven through Detroit and Baltimore, seeing the wreckage myself!

And we wonder … “Why?”

Better read Proverbs 11:11 again!

Here it is … “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”

Folks, “Dragnet” can hardly be found anymore, other than the rare posting of an episode online.

Come to think of it … Los Angeles is about gone too! (I had mistakenly typed “Lost Angeles,” but my spell checker caught it!)

Oh, the failproof accuracy of God’s Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

This same principle works on the national level, too. (Undoubtedly including the United States of America.) “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and ALL the nations that forget God.” Psalm 7:17

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Paull was aboard ship. In a storm at that! It appeared that all was lost. Hopeless!

But then … it happened!

An “angel” came.

With a message. A word of encouragement.

The Apostle tells us the story better than anyone. He is speaking to the ship’s crew … “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night THE ANGEL OF GOD, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Acts 27:22-25

Did you see that, read that? “There stood by me this night the angel of God.”

I am thinking about the ministry of angels right now. They do exist, created beings, servants (errand runners) for the Lord. In Hebrews 12:22 we learn that they are “innumerable!”

It also appears that they are active … even in our age. For Hebrews 13:3 implies that many of us may have encountered them “unawares.”

Hebrews 1:14 teaches that these angels “serve” the saints of God as well! “Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister (the verb that gives us the word “deacon”) for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

While this class of beings can be overemphasized, I believe, they can also be underemphasized.

And that night long ago when Paul most needed a word of encouragement … he received a visit from on high. The “angel” of God stood by his side!

And while we may not have visibly seen one, or even been aware of his presence … angels likely have been on assignment around us too!

Perhaps when we all get to Heaven … we will know more specifically about those times when we ourselves received, experienced, were aided by “angels” from the Lord’s Presence.

When the Story is completely told, in the “by and by,” we shall know more. And probably, “stand amazed!”

There may have stood by you one night, many nights, the angel of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17, an army of (here invisible) angels … protecting Elisha and his helper!

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