Daily Devotionals – Page 10 – Grace and Glory ministries

September 4, 2024

Shortsighted self centred leadership (17/3/2022)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 39:6-8 “The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”_ – NIV King Hezekiah had been sick. Upon his recovery, the king of Babylon sent envoys to go and see him. King Hezekiah excitedly showed around his palace and all the treasures. Prophet Isaiah found out what they saw, and the word of the Lord came through that all those treasures they saw would one day be carried off to Babylon. And the people would be taken captive, including Hezekiah’s own people. Since it would come much later, king Hezekiah said the word of the Lord about such disaster was good. It is ironic that he said it was a good word and yet it was about disaster coming. Reason? Because it would not happen in his time! Such is the short sightedness and selfishness of many leaders. They make decisions and policies that they are fully aware will be disastrous to their people. They are bribed to pass bad laws, mortgage the future of their people and console themselves that by the time their decisions bite, they would either be gone or safe somewhere!Strategic well meaning leaders secure the future. Hezekiah would have pleaded for mercy, asked God to spare His people and their land from such disaster. But since he was assured he would not be there to experience it, it didn’t bother him! Most of the problems we experience today across all leadership levels in the family, society, church, national and international levels is because of the selfish legacy of leaders. They only think about themselves and the present – steal, manipulate, divide, amass wealth – not caring about the people they lead. May God help us be foresighted leaders who lay good foundations and create a future softer landing for those who come after we are long gone! Jesus did so. Moses did so._John 17:11-12 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”_Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Human commitments

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 26:33-35 “Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.”_ – NIV

Jesus was going to be arrested, tried and killed. The disciples all committed themselves to stand with Him all the way. Peter made a further commitment, that he would be with Jesus even if all fell away. He was ready to go with him to the point of death.

But Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times that night. And it happened. All the disciples fled. Peter denied Jesus, even calling curses on himself! He miserably failed in his commitment. I believe Peter and the rest of the disciples were genuine in their commitments to stand with Jesus all the way even to death.

But the human limitations and weaknesses stood in their way. They all fled and abandoned Him. Jesus later restored all of them to Himself after His resurrection. He didn’t accuse them of failing Him. Most of us make genuine commitments to God and to others.
But for various reasons, we fail to honor them. Let’s always endeavor to make amends whenever we fail. As we make commitments, let’s remember that we need God’s help. Jesus said without Him, we can do nothing.

James cautioned those who make plans and think they will succeed on their own to always give room for the Lord’s will to be done. And when we are not sure, let’s not be quick and out of excitement to make commitments. Where we have failed, God restores us to Himself. Let’s return in repentance and humility to God as Peter did, and to those we failed.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

James 4:15 “Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Human security vs God’s power

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 27:64 “So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”_ – NIV The Pharisees and teachers of the law had successfully killed Jesus and now wanted to secure their victory. Pilate allowed them to post security guards and they put a seal on the tomb of Jesus. They wanted to prevent Him from resurrecting as He had indicated earlier. With the best human guards available and a seal on the tombstone, they were convinced Jesus would not rise up. They were greatly mistaken!This was an attempt of man to resist God’s plan and to prevent what He had purposed to do. It was laughable. Later, when the angel in God’s glory came to role away the stone, along with the lightening and earthquake, the guards fell down as though dead (Matt 28:4). It was like a mosquito attempting to fight an elephant. When men conspire and try to fight their Creator, God looks down and laughs (Psalm 2:1-5). And yet this is what people do many times. They resist God, sneer and fight to have their way in futility.The best of human pride, strength and ammunition directed against God is nothing. When they seem to succeed, God in His mercy is simply giving them time to reconsider their ways. Those who take refuge in God can be assured of unfailing protection from God under Whose wings they are totally safe. The Lord protects His own. Those who trust in Him will not be put to shame. The schemes of the wicked against the Lord and His righteous ones will not succeed except for what God allows to fulfill His bigger purposes._Psalms 127:1 “If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the Lord does not protect the city, it is useless for the sentries to stand guard.”_- GNB Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Thankfulness allows God to work on our behalf

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 14:17-20 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."_ - NIV

It was a remote place. It was getting late. Multitudes had followed Jesus. The disciples told Jesus to send them away to go and find food for themselves. Jesus felt He couldn’t just send them away like that. He wanted to feed them. But the five loaves of bread and two fish was nothing to suffice, according to human logic. Jesus received it, gave thanks to God and gave it out. It multiplied to feed five thousand men, besides women and children with twelve basketfuls remaining.

King Jehoshaphat was besieged by a vast army. He was unprepared and greatly feared. He turned to God Who gave him a unique strategy to sing and give thanks to the Lord as they went to face the enemy in the battlefield. God intervened and defeated their enemies thoroughly (2 Chronicles 20). Giving thanks allows God to work on our behalf. It is an acknowledgement of our limited abilities, and trust in God to intervene on our behalf.

Sometimes in life, we seem to be hanging on a thread, have so little, pushed to a corner and feel so helpless. When we bring what seems like nothing, and our helpless state to God in thanks, we invite Him to intervene and help us. And God does it so powerfully that it can overwhelm our imaginations. Several stories in the Bible and contemporary human experiences of those who trusted God testify to this. He calls us to bring them to Him with thanksgiving in our hearts. And watch to see what He can do._

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord,   for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."_

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Thank you Lord!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Thank you Lord for my challenges,
Through them I grow stronger and better in you.
Thank you Lord for my pains and tears,
Through them, I learn your healing and how to feel with others.
Thank you Lord for my sorrows,
Through them, I experience your comfort and how to comfort others.
Thank you Lord for my disappointments,
Through them, I cease to hope in man. Thank you Lord for the conviction of wrong,
Through it I come to repentance and restoration to you.

Thank you Lord for my daily needs…
Through them, I learn to prayerfully depend on you.
Thank you Lord for my vulnerability,
Through it, I learn humility in my humanity.
Thank you Lord for my limitations,
Through them, you teach me dependence.
Thank you Lord for my failures,
Through them I learn that I dont know it all.
Thank you Lord for the delays,
Through them I learn perseverance.

Thank you Lord for those who nag, hate and reject me,
Through them I learn to practice your unconditional love.
Thank you Lord for family and true friends,
Through them I appreciate the warmth of your kind of love.
Thank you Lord for me, unlike no other,
Through me, I learn how special and unique I am to you.
Thank you Lord others,
Through them, I appreciate the beauty of difference.

Thank you Lord for your Word,
Through it I get to know you.
Thank you Lord for the privilege of service,
Through it I am a vessel in your hand for noble use.
Thank you Lord for the day of accountability,
Through it I learn responsible stewardship.
Thank you Lord for what remains hidden,
Through them I learn to trust even when I don’t understand.

Thank you Lord!

September 4, 2024

Put your house in order!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 38:1 "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”_

King Hezekiah was sick. God sent prophet Isaiah to alert him to put his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed and God added him 15 years. Eventually he still died. Many like the part of additional years in this scripture, but we would do well to consider the alert to prepare for physical death. Death came to man as a result of the fall. Except for those who will be taken alive when Jesus returns, all the rest of us will face physical death.

The reality is that we are temporary in this world. Whether one lives to be hundred or less, we shall all go. And none of us knows exactly when and how this will happen. Hezekiah was one of the few whom God alerted in advance to put his house in order before he died. The biggest question then becomes how prepared we are to face our Creator! The best preparation is to give our lives to Christ and purposefully live for Him.

Unfortunately, some behave as if all we live for is the here and now. Our lives are in the hands of God Who created us and set the days we are to live in this world. All our lives on earth is an opportunity to prepare for eternity and to meet our God. At the consummation of all things, when our life in this world comes to an end, will you rejoice that you lived to honor and please God? Or will you eternally regret that you wasted your life on things that don’t matter? Prepare to meet your God!(Amos 4:12)._

Hebrews 9:27 "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..."_Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Now I understand!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 45:5,7 "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you... But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."_ - NIV

His brothers were jealousy of the love their father had for Joseph. They stripped him of his beautiful coat, attempted to kill him, threw him in a dry pit, sold him to Egypt, he is resold in Egypt to Portphar. Falsely accused, he is dumped in prison. By divine providence, he interprets Pharaoh’s troubling dream and he is made prime minister in Egypt. He is cut off from the love of his father.

Twenty two years later, his brothers come to buy food from him. They bow down in fulfillment of Joseph’s dream that had brought him trouble with them. Joseph has now understood the purpose of the bitter troubles his brothers subjected him to. He understands it was a divine arrangement to safe them. He asks them not to be distressed with themselves or to fear he would revenge on them. Instead, he was sent by God ahead of them, to safe them.

This was written for our learning too. Many bitter troubles and challenges come our way orchestrated by the devil through others. But never do they fail God’s predetermined purposes for us. Instead, it only helps to serve and fulfil them. Our greatest benefit from these circumstances of life is when we come to understand the bigger picture, the greater purpose, the divine hand in all these sometimes very perplexing situations of life.

Whether started by God or the devil, or selfish people, or our own mistakes, all things work together for good to those called according to God’s purpose. Hang in there. It will become clearer with time. God means well. Soon the treasure will emerge out of the rubble of pain and tears. Then you will say, ‘Now I understand!’_

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."_Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Righteous anger

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 3:5 "He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored."_ -NIV

Anger is an emotion that every human has. It is provoked by things we are not happy with. God gets angry too. We read of this throughout the Bible. It was, and is always directed against evil in its different forms. Jesus exhibited anger a number of times against those who deliberately twisted and sought to overturn the truth to promote evil. Mark reports how distressed He was at the stubborn hearts of the religious people to belief, insisting that He should not heal on the sabbath.

What angers us is important to identify. Some anger is in defense of ones ego and pride, towards acts of injustice, or out of personal frustration of sorts. As God’s people, we identify with His emotions. What pleases or angers Him should likewise please or anger us. The more we choose to live for Him, the more our hearts are aligned to His. We hate evil and rejoice in righteousness, truth and justice.

Anger, if not controlled and properly channelled, can be destructive. The devil takes advantage of it to cause us to sin. This is why the Bible says we should be angry but not sin. There is need for self control. But if channelled to righteous causes, anger can be a driving force to make things right, fight injustice and promote good. Many transformational changes in society have been ignited by anger at the bad state of affairs which drove the agents of change to take action. _

Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."_

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Take risks, step out by faith!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 14:6 "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”_ - NIV

Israel was in an awkward situation. The philistines in their thousands had come to attack. King Saul wasn’t prepared. They had no weapons except Saul and Jonathan. His army greatly panicked and went into hiding. It was a sure defeat in waiting for them. But Jonathan and his armor bearer decided to take a huge risk by showing themselves up to their enemies and trusting God to save Israel through them. Just the two of them with God against multitudes! And great victory came.

Sometimes we have to step out in faith and venture into what we believe is in God’s will against the odds. If Jonathan had not trusted God and taken that step without the knowledge of his father Saul, the whole nation would have suffered defeat. If we are to wait for all factors to be favorable before we launch out, we might wait indefinitely. Afew with God is unmatched. As Jonathan noted, God can safe with a few or with many. Nothing can hinder Him.

But for this to happen, one has to take a step and act. Peter could not have walked on water until he stepped out. The Red sea and Jordan river parted when Israel stepped on them. The lepers couldnt have seen a miraculous provision if they didnt risk their lives. We may never know what God can accomplish in and through us until we overcome fear, take the steps and then see God act. So many are frozen and paralyzed with fear. Dreams and projects have died as a result. If you know what needs to be done is in God’s will and time, take a step. You lose nothing by trying it out._

Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."_

Shalom children of God

September 4, 2024

Significance of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus (R) (i)**The Forgiveness of Our Sins

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 26:28 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."_ - NIV

These were the words of Jesus to His disciples as they ate the last supper together before His arrest, torture and death. Symbolically, He gave them to drink from one cup, to represent the blood He was going to shed. The purpose of the blood was forgiveness of sin. Prior to that, the old covenant required that for people’s sins to be forgiven, the blood of animals was used for atonement. But Jesus was now shedding His own blood for the once and for all forgiveness of all people’s sins in covenant for all generations to come.

Blood is life. For it to be poured out, a part or whole life of an animal or human being is lost. When Jesus shed His blood for our sins, He literally laid down His life for us. No such price, of the magnitude of the life of the Son of God, would be paid if God didn’t place so much value in us! He loved and valued us too much to leave us lost in our sins. He gave His best, to redeem His best. We are His best.

The price for forgiveness of sin was fully paid. But God doesn’t impose it on us. He expects us to acknowledge this great gesture of His limitless love and respond by recieving His forgiveness through repentance of sin. He calls us to Himself. How can we fail to respond to such immeasurable love?! To you precious one who has not recieved Jesus, He calls today. Do not harden your heart to His tender mercies. You can recieve Him now wherever you are by faith. His blood washes away sin so that we are justified before God. Blessed be His great name! _

1 Peter:3.18 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..._"

Shalom children of God. Happy Easter

Category: Daily Devotionals

Shortsighted self centred leadership (17/3/2022)

Human commitments

Human security vs God’s power

Thankfulness allows God to work on our behalf

Thank you Lord!

Put your house in order!

Now I understand!

Righteous anger

Take risks, step out by faith!

Significance of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus (R) (i)**The Forgiveness of Our Sins

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