Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” – NIV

Have you ever thought about eternity? This is a period of time beyond measure, or simply time without end. One can’t even talk in terms of known units of measurement like billions, trillions, quadrillions  of years, because that’s already measurable, however unfathomable it is to our little limited human minds.

To enable some slight understanding of eternity, someone once illustrated it this way: Consider the smallest ant, on a mission to move the whole earth to the farthest star in the universe. The farthest star so far known is 9 billion light years away from earth. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. In one second, light travels at 299,792KMs. One year has over 31.5 million seconds. So in one year, light moves over 9.4trillion KMs. To the farthest star, it’s that distance multiplied 9billion times. That’s already beyond the range of our computations and numbering.

Even with modern supersonic jets, traveling at thousands of KMs per hour, such a  journey is endless. How much more a little ant? And knowing how much the ant carries, when will it complete shifting the entire 6×10^24Kg mass of planet earth? Mission impossible! And yet one day it will complete it. But eternity would have just began!

God’s word teaches that all of us will spend eternity somewhere. Everyone created will live somewhere and never disappear. There are only two destinies, determined by our decisions here on earth: heaven or hell. Heaven is a place of great joy and peace for those to whom Jesus is Savior and Lord. Their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Hell is a place of extreme torment for those who have rejected the Savior and Lord Jesus in their lives. I invite you to give serious thought to the question of where you will spend eternity. Choose to spend it in heaven by choosing Jesus the way. That’s God’s will for all of us.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

Shalom children of God. 

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” – NIV

The last book of the Bible was coming to a close as John heard in the ending part of the revelation at the island of Patmos. Alot had been shown to John of the events that would mark and characterise the end of the age. And then the emphatic words with absolute clarity, from the highest authority in the universe came forth, “Behold, I am coming soon!”

The ‘soon’ Jesus talked about has been misinterpreted, from human perspective, to mean delay 2000 years later. But God’s timing is not our timing, as we understand time. The bible also gives the reason for the seeming delay as God giving everyone opportunity to come to Him and be saved(2 Peter 3:9). The Scriptures also give us signs that point to the end of the age and the imminent return of Jesus. We would do well to study these signs by looking at what is happening in our world today and comparing with Bible prophecy.

As we watch these signs today, it’s no doubt that we are closer than we can imagine to the coming of Jesus. We may not know the day or hour, but the signs will show us how close it is. And the warning to all is to be ready! Jesus said He is coming with rewards to give to each one according to their works. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. We can therefore rely on His words and take them seriously and live with this awareness every moment.

It won’t be long before we hear the trumpet sound. Jesus is coming back! Are you ready if He came now?

Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Revelation 22:7,20 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book…”He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”_NIVAfter God made all the good things in creation, he made Adam. Still the man was incomplete. And God Himself said so. God created man, male and female, in His own image. He gave them dominion to rule over His creation (Gen 1:26-28). Man and woman are co-heirs in God’s kingdom. Without woman, man cannot fulfill his creation mandate from God. Both were made in God’s image, in the likeness of God. These are profound truths God set from the beginning. After the fall of man, the devil manipulated and twisted God’s original intention in the minds of men, making woman seem inferior and subordinate to man. He has done this through cultures and traditions of men down the millennia. To date, millions of women around the world are treated as inferior beings, sex objects and slaves, dependant on men, less than men, less deserving, and subjected to many dehumanising practices. Many girls grow up thinking that is what they are made for!The desire to break lose from these oppressive demonic vices and enable women realise and live out their God given potential, gave rise to women emancipation movements, special day to recognise women, women representation in governments, and a host of other women groups and organisations fighting for women rights. Until you experience your freedom in God, these fall short good as they are.The rise of women into various positions of influence in governments, church and society has proved the worth and abilities they have to co-manage with man. Whereas Jesus did not appoint women to be among the twelve disciples, it’s no doubt He valued them contrary the Jewish traditions then, and women were very much behind His successful ministry, upto the cross, at the resurrection and at the upper room when the church was being ushered into the world. Woman, you are special to God and in His creation work and the world. Jesus came to restore the dignity of women. In Him you find your true position and liberty. Rise up, walk with your head high and take your place in humility and respect in society and the church. _Galatians 3:26-28 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”_Shalom children of God. Happy women’s day.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 32:6-7 “When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.”_ – NIV Jacob had fled from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him for taking his birthright. He had been with Laban, his uncle, for twenty years. God instructed him to return home. Knowing the bitter anger Esau had against him, he sought to alert and assess Esau’s reaction by sending messengers to find out. The feedback was hard hitting: Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. That sent chills to Jacob. He was in extreme fear and distress. He turned to God in prayer, and divided up his possessions with a gift for Esau.After breakthrough prayer with God, he eventually met with Esau. What was supposed to be a fight, turned out to be a reunion of love. It was unbelievable for Jacob. He said seeing Esau face to face was like seeing God. This happens in life. There are things we greatly fear and are troubled about. We wonder how we can face them. We try all possible human solutions. But when we commit them to God, He works behind the scenes, takes care of our fears and gives victory. Let’s learn to commit the things beyond our abilities, our fears, distress and uncertainties to God. The natural human tendency is to take matters in our hands. In attempt to find solutions, sometimes we mess up the more. Life will always have these perplexing situations. But God remains a present helper in such times. He has already taken care of it without our knowledge as He did for distressed Israelites by the Red sea. May we learn to be still and know that He is God even in those times when everything seems to fall apart. There is no hopeless situation with God!_Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."_ - NIV 

Paul vehemently defended the gospel he preached about Christ as true. So firmly true is it that he made such strong statements of curses for anyone who perverted and preached a different gospel. He noted that some people were deliberately doing this to take them back to salvation through the law. Why such strong words? Because such compromises have eternal consequences.

We are to love, respect and even please others in what we do for encouragement, communion, support and to move together. That’s in God’s will. The dividing line, however, comes when our attempt to please others puts us at enemity with God. This includes sinning, compromising doctrinal matters, breaking fellowship with God because you want to impress men. In that case, as it was for Paul in the scripture above, we have to choose to please God and not men.

Such situations always come – in homes, community, work places, in seeking opportunities, etc. We have to decide, commit and settle it in our hearts that we shall choose to please God. The price may be high, leading to lose of opportunities, friends, facing ridicule, rejection or forfeiting other benefits. Anyone who has lived for God amidst the evils of this world, has paid that price to stand for God. You too, guided by a firm foundation of godly values, can stand. If you decide to please men in such cases, you cease to be a servant of Christ. _

1 Thessalonians 2:4 "Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives."_

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 15:13-15 "When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”_ - NIV 

God’s message and instructions to Saul were clear; to wipe out the Amelekites and everything they owned. Saul went and selectively destroyed what was unpleasant and spared the best bulls and sheep, purportedly to come and sacrifice to God. They also spared Agag, their king. When he met Samuel to report, he confidently said he carried out the Lord’s instructions. This act of disobedience displeased God so much that He regreted why He made Saul king, and removed him from the kingship.

Disobedience comes in various forms. Outright or partial refusal to heed instructions. When what God requires of us is interpreted and executed as one wishes or finds convenient, that’s disobedience. We are not at liberty to choose what we wish to do and what we don’t like as far as God’s word is concerned. God calls us to simple trust and complete obedience. Jesus commissioned the church to teach obedience to His commands.

How is it that some are living in sin and disobedience in one area of their lives and yet appear very confident, committed and zealous for God in other aspects? Because of self styled godliness which has redefined God’s word and instructions to conveniently suit their ungodly bodily desires. It is double dealing with the world. The Bible says God cannot be mocked by such hypocrisy. We ultimately reap what we sow. Choose to simply trust and obey God. That’s the way of peace._Galatians 6:7 “Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. People will reap exactly what they sow.”__

Matthew 28:20 "...and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”_ 

Shalom children of God.