Its name, “jaguar,” is believed to derive from the vocabulary of an ancient Brazilian tribe. It is thought to mean “wild beast that overcomes its prey at a bound.”

The jaguar is the third largest “cat” in the world, behind the tiger and the lion, in that order. (It can weigh up to 400 pounds!) It is the largest cat in the Americas!

This creature is one of the fiercest hunters in all God’s creation! Killing not only crocodiles, turtles (teeth so strong and sharp that can effortlessly bite through a turtle’s shell), deer, cattle and even (at times) people!

He primarily lives in Mexico as well as Central and South America. (But it is currently thought that the heaviest concentration of these majestic creatures is located in the nation of Brazil.)

His body is covered with spots, a yellow coat sprinkled with black spots. I am told that a trained eye can “spot” the difference between the jaguar and the leopard, a smaller animal.

An interesting fact, naturally speaking the jaguar has no enemies! Too big and fast and fierce for that!

He is at home in water (one of the few cats that can effectively swim), in the lofty jungle trees, and of course on land.

Not a surprise, he can live up to 20 years! Who in the world is going to “bother” him?

Oh, one more thing. These animals have an infamous temper! You will notice that earlier I told you he can eat “men!” (So dangerous is he that some countries have hired men to kill them!)

And talk about grudges!

Once injured by a human being, the big cat has been known to “hunt” them down and attack them! I mean hunt them for days and days! And once he locates his “prey” he tries to kill them!

Of course, usually the angry animal loses that battle. (Guns and bullets versus cat power!)

Then again, I see a “lesson” here, a “warning.” The Bible teaches us of the dangers of “revenge,” of “spite.” And of an “angry disposition” as well.

Proverbs 22:24 … “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.”

Colossians 3:8 … “But now ye also put off all these; ANGER, WRATH, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

1 Peter 2:1 … where “malice” is defined as “ill will, the desire to get even” … “Wherefore laying aside all MALICE, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings …”

And as far as trying to “trap” someone, hunting them down with desire to kill … “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” Proverbs 26:27

The jaguar does NOT mix well with people! I don’t think I have never heard of a jaguar “pet!”

Yet we Christians must be gregarious. To this point … “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another …” Quoting a part of Hebrew 10:25, wise advice in dangerous times! Our adversary as Believers is not said to be a jaguar, but a roaring lion!

Be alert!

Conquer that temper!

Love people, the brethren particularly!

Be smarter than the jaguar.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A little animal that “plays?”

Strange as that fact might sound, YES INDEED!

Otters, our focus for today, come in 13 species, all created by our Wise God according to Scripture.

They are sea creatures, though some live in freshwater. (That “species” thing!) They are found ranging in size from 2 to 5 feet in length! (Yes, these are adults!) And weighing from 3 pounds all the way up to 75 pounds!

They are thickly covered in fur, two layers in fact. More fur per square inch than any other animal, according to the experts!

And otters love the water! Excellent swimmers!

(That fur is waterproof, by the way.)

Their diet: mostly fish, including crabs and crayfish, lots of shellfish. The latter of which they “break open” using their hard stomachs pressed against rocks on the nearby shore!

They can, when necessary, “walk” on land too! Moving from one lake to another, across a mountain! Such feats have been observed time and time again.

And they train their young! A mother otter may take as much as a year teaching her little one to survive on its own!

Their defense mechanism? Primarily teeth, a deep bite that is said to be ferocious!

But back to my initial thought … “playful otters?”

They certainly enjoy life!

Gregarious little fellows, they play together for hours!

Sliding down wet hills into the water! One after another!

When that activity becomes boring, a “game” of “follow the leader” just might be next!

Then a friendly “wrestling match” or two might complete the afternoon’s recreation!

(King James I of England, the authorizer of the King James Bible, had a collection of live otters. He watched them play for hours! As entertainment, for the King himself!)

But can we draw a spiritual lesson from these amazing examples of God’s creation?

How about this?

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Let us not be sour, drab, monotonous in all we do!

Smile!

Even laugh!

After all, “The joy of the LORD is our strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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No, God did NOT create the character trait known as sloth! In fact, that is a sin, laziness! But God did create the animals that man has named the “sloth.”

This little mammal lives in the rain forests of Central and South America. With their long hair and shaggy fur, they resemble monkeys. They are two to two and a half feet long (tall) and weigh between 10-17 pounds, on average.

This little creature loves to sleep! If undisturbed, he can log as many as 18 hours a day snoozing away! He or she mostly lives in trees, his feet are structured so that walking on hard ground is uncomfortable! And when he is on the move, it takes an entire minute to travel a mere 14 feet!

Oh, this too. They live in the trees, as I said, but love to hang up there upside down! Most of their lives are spent in that awkward position!

He is so stationary (seldom moving far) that tiny plants grow on its fur! Green algae, to be a little more specific. This phenomenon makes this unique creature look like he’s part of the tree itself! Good protection, in fact! A typical enemy, predator of his … the flying eagle, especially when the sloth is young and more vulnerable! (I see God’s creativity in every line I am typing!)

He is not a social creature, either! Seldom seen in pairs! Usually if “two” are spotted, you are looking at a mother and child.

Now I am wondering exactly how they catch their food. Being so slow, so inactive. The answer: they survive on the very leaves of the trees they inhabit!

Can you understand why he is called that, a “sloth?” Which is permissible (I guess) in the animal world. But certainly not in the real world of human beings!

The Bible’s predominant word for “slothfulness” derives from the Hebrew “atsel,” meaning “lazy, sluggish,” or of course “slothful!”

Here’s one Bible character who is too lazy to even eat, to feed himself! “A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.” Proverbs 19:24

A danger of such laziness? “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” Proverbs 21:25

And apparently a slothful man makes up excuses not to leave his tree … I mean his house! “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” Proverbs 22:13

Sloths (the mammals) love to sleep, as we saw above. So do lazy humans, sleep too much! “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” Proverbs 26:14

I have heard (read) enough!

I want to avoid sloth in every area of my life!

Here’s a therapeutic verse … “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10.

Paul wisely adds … “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

Now Jesus our Lord teaches us, most importantly of all … “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4

Let’s WORK, not being LAZY, until Jesus comes again!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A fish that knows “archery?”

It seems so. A God given talent, an acquired ability extended to a little sea creature!

Remember a Line from Job 12:8 … “The fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.”

This little fellow is only 5-6 inches long, and when near shore can play the part of a submarine hunting for the enemy!

The fish (underwater, mind you) can spot a “meal” as small as a ladybug six feet high on a bush or tree! And it can “spit” a jet of water from its submerged position to water’s surface then onward to its “target.” The stunned ladybug then falls into the water and the rest is history! A meal to be enjoyed!

What a “gun!”

What an accurate system of calculating and aiming just the right trajectory to hit its “target!”

Scientists cannot yet understand the “how” of Mr. Archerfish’s amazing skill!

I read this too. Archerfish do not have this ability from birth! They learn (that’s intelligence) to feed themselves via their shooting ability!

In a way (excuse me please) the little archerfish is smarter (wiser) than many humans!

He learns “shoot” this way through practice, much practice! (Or so say those who have observed these little fish for years.)

Through “persistence!”

We might say “faithfulness!”

And really that’s the “key” to successful Christian living too.

Learning, especially God’s Word!

Being faithful to one’s task!

Spotting nuggets of food and nourishing oneself thereby!

Like the “milk” of the Word! The “bread and meat” of God’s Word too! As well as the “honey” of Scripture. (“Sweeter than honey in the honeycomb!” Psalm 19:10)

Lots of lessons, wise lessons can be learned from God’s creation, including this little “water spitting” fish!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Lord, give us all the spirit of a learner. Especially in the things of God.”

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His (or her) name derives from two Latin words. “Porcus” means “pig” in that ancient tongue. And “spine” means “thorn!” An animal that has a pig-like shape and can wound an attacker with his thorns, spears, quills!

The little creature has around 30,00 of those sharp things, weapons! (And contrary to popular opinion, he cannot shoot them through the air!) But if he can get his predator behind him, he has the ability to “back up” both rapidly and forcefully into his enemy! (I am told even a tiger is hesitant to harm the porcupine!)

Whereupon (on impact) those little quills stick into the dog (or whatever) and loosen themselves from the porcupine! (Don’t worry, the little fellow can grow them back relatively quickly!)

I said “little” quills! Some of them are up to 15 inches long! And they are (our amazing Creator at work) built with tiny “blades” all over them! Razor sharp to cut into an attacker’s face deeper and deeper. Can you imagine the pain as the predator tries to rub these (double-edged, triple-edged, multi-edged) spears away! Deeper and deeper they go!

Myriads of accounts tell of those quills setting up infection in the enemy coyote (etc.) and leading to its death!

But, as we all know, some ill-advised animals attack anyway! But few succeed!

Any creature seeking to kill a porcupine … such a scenario reminds me of a verse of Scripture. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3

Let the wise beware!

I thought too about us Christians who also have a double-edged, sharp Sword with which to lunge at the devil! Yes, the Word of God! (“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.” Hebrews 4:12)

Yes, dear reader, God’s creation does exhibit His awesome Wisdom and Power and Glory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Furthermore, porcupines can climb trees, but are mostly ground animals. They are even good swimmers, if need be! And they are rodents, living up to 7 years in the wild! They can weigh up to 35 pounds, lots of quill-space! They eat leaves, plants, fruit, and even the tender layer of tissue beneath the bark of trees.

Truly, creation points to the Creator!

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