Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” – NIV

The Laodicean church had settled and arrived. They felt they had all they needed. But when the Lord looked at them, they were lukewarm, in a pitiful and wrecked state. Out of love and desire to see them become what He wanted them to be, Jesus rebuked them for their complacence. He let them know it was out of love and expected them to respond through repentance.

No rebuke and discipline is pleasant. It may discourage, strip of confidence or cause pain temporarily. But it is for an ultimate good. Whoever positively receives discipline, correction and rebukes always becomes better. Those who, out of pride and hypocrisy reject well meaning discipline and continue in their ways, eventually destroy themselves. We all make mistakes one way or another.It takes humility and a focused mind to graciously accept corrective discipline.

God disciplines His own children as well. As it happened to the church in Laodicea, sometimes we stray, settle for what He didn’t intend for us, get entangled with worldly affairs, slacken in our walk with Him, and so on. Out of love, God rebukes and disciplines to correct us. And as He does, He has our best interests in mind, to make us the best He wants us to be. So take it in good faith and repent. He is not punishing, but correcting us.

Hebrews 12:6,7,11 “…because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?… No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Shalom. Peaceful weekend

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Romans 2:4-5 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” – NIV

Paul had in no uncertain terms expressed God’s anger towards those who deliberately reject and pervert the gospel, given themselves to gross evil despite being fully aware about the truth, and were judging others and yet practicing the same things. He let them know it was God’s unprecedented kindness, tolerance and patience which had sustained them before His judgement fell. God was patient, giving them time to repent and change their ways.

But they instead showed contempt for this grace of God by remaining sturbon and unrepentant. Certain judgement awaited them. When God seems quiet as men continue in evil, despise His kindness and patience, and doesn’t seem to react to their hardness of heart, it may be taken for weakness. But in His mercy and grace, God is instead giving people time to realise their fallennes, repent of their wicked ways and turn to Him.

May we not be tempted to take God’s patience, grace and kindness for granted and assume He has ignored our disobedience. Remember Samson! Let’s heed His loving correction and restoration as He brings us back to righteousness and holiness. When we stumble, allow Him raise us back to our feet. He is a gracious compassionate God, not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance and be saved.

Revelation 2:21-22 “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Shalom children of God.

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.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Corinthians 2:17 “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” – NIV

Paul had a huge challenge in dealing with false teachers who made it their task to discredit and speak ill of him in Corinth. They did this because their intentions in ministry was not to preach the word to genuinely minister to others, but to them it was a business. As Paul states in the verse above, they were peddling the word of God for profit! Their fighting Paul in ministry was motivated by a feeling that he was hindering the gospel ‘business.’

How terrible this is, and yet so true and common even in our day! Some gospel ministers are not sent from God, but into preaching as a way of earning income. To them, ministry is business. The more ‘customers’ you have the better. Their focus then is more numbers, more strategies to woo people, fighting those who rise above them, advertise their ministries, convince as many about themselves, etc.

These results in dishonest ways which bring shame to God as they do anything to remain popular and win crowds to remain in business! Paul notes that to the contrary, as those sent from God, they speak before God with sincerity as they minister. Our primary accountability is to God, to be found doing only what He commissioned us to do. This will guard against any temptation to peddle His word for personal gain. May we be found as able ministers with sincere hearts before God. Integrity of every gospel minister is none negotiable.

2 Corinthians 4:2 “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Shalom. Fruitful week

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts 17:30-31 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” – NIV

Paul was in Athens. As he preached the good news, he brought to their attention a day God has set to judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed, Jesus Christ. He further noted that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the undeniable proof of this fact. Jesus Himself had earlier stated that the Father had entrusted all judgment to Him (John 5:22).

All mankind has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and standard. Sin must be judged. But God in His great mercy and love, so loved the world of lost sinners, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him will not perish. Jesus bore the punishment for our sin. The basis of God’s judgment for man, will primarily be on what we did with the Son He sent to save us; whether we accepted Him as Lord and Savior to reconcile as with God, or we rejected Him and continued in our wicked ways. The second line of judgment will be what we did for His glory, and so be rewarded accordingly.

The very Person softly and tenderly calling us to Himself now, is going to be the Judge later. Today He is the sweet gentle Savior. On the judgment throne, He will be the Lion of Judah, the Judge from Whom people will want to flee! While there is still time and opportunity to make peace with the Judge of the universe, do it now, by repentance from sin, believing in Him as Lord and Savior and serving Him. He is just a short prayer away. You can invite Jesus now into your life. Make prior peace with the Judge before it’s too late!

John 3:18 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Numbers 9:17-19 “Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out.” – NIV

The Israelites were in the desert of Sinai. The tent of meeting and worship had been set up. And the sign of God’s presence in it was the cloud which settled above the tent. At night, it was like a fire. The cloud was their guide to move or remain. When it moved, it meant God was telling them to move. When it settled, they were to settle. The cloud represented God’s command.

God operates in seasons and times. There is a time to settle, and a time to move on towards what He has destined for us. This happens through change. The Israelites needed to watch the clouds to notice what God wanted them to do. If they continued to settle yet they were expected to move, they would miss out on what God had. Likewise, if they moved ahead when God wanted them settled, they would miss out. It was important to keep in step with God’s move for maximum benefit and blessings.

God now speaks and leads us in various ways, not the physical cloud. But the principle is the same; be sensitive and discerning enough to move when God expects you to move, and settle when He expects you to settle. What do you feel God leading you to do this season? Respond and move with Him. Whenever and wherever He leads, let’s obediently and faithfully follow. He means well and has our best interests in heart. Trust Him.

John 10:3-4 “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke:19.41-44  “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (NIV)

It was Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem. He had been around for three years, doing all the great things He did to demonstrate He was the expected Messiah. But the majority of His own people didn’t recognise Him as the Messiah sent from God to save them. God was in their midst. He had visited them in His mercy, to save and reconcile them to Himself, but they failed to discern God’s visitation to them. Their leaders ourightly rejected Him and mobilised the people to do the same. This was despite the fact that they were waiting for His coming! As a result, judgment was the only alternative.

God visits individuals, families,  groups, communities or even whole nations of people in two ways. First, to show mercy, intervene and save His people. If they fail to recognise it over time, or take lightly, abuse and squander the opportunity of favour and mercy of God, He returns in visitation of judgement. And that’s dreadful! Various people are at different levels of the mercy – judgment trajectory. I pray each discerns where they fall and respond to God accordingly. And while there is still time to benefit from His great mercies and love in this dispensation of grace, please receive it.

Hebrews 2:2-4 “For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

Shalom children of God.