Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 16:10-12 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?" - NIV

We live in a world in which faithfulness is becoming so scarce, even among professing Christian believers on whom such a virtue is expected to be the norm!  One of God’s key characteristics is faithfulness. God is faithfully true to His promises. He never falls short of what He commited to do. He is moulding us into His character and expects us to be like Him. But He starts by entrusting us with little.

Life and all that we have is a trust. God gave it to us so that we use it to bless others. We don’t only live for ourselves. One way or another, some people’s lives depend on ours and we too depend on them. That means whatever we have is NOT entirely our own. We hold it in trust for others by God’s design. But because of corrupted mindsets, people selfishly focus more on themselves.

Jesus taught that our faithfulness is tested by the little things of life. How we handle that determines whether we can be trusted with bigger things. Some think, ‘it’s just a small amount I diverted, just alittle this or that I misused.’ They even laugh it off as a minor thing. God’s principle is that if you were unfaithful in that little, you can as well be unfaithful in much. No one steals colossal sums of money, for example, from nowhere. It began with little ‘stealings’ here and there. This applies to all aspects of lifes’ trust. Learn to be faithful even in the little and you will be trusted with much. It takes a deliberate effort to do so.  God is willing to help us all be faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”_Thankfulness is a choice, a discipline and an attitude anyone can develop. It is a manifestation of appreciation, joy and respect for those to whom, and for what we are thankful. It was a common attitude in Paul to always be thankful despite severe suffering. He urged the Thessalonians to be joyful always, pray and give thanks in all circumstances. Certainly, there were good and terrible moments in the faith walk. Even in them, they were to be grateful to God. Life is not a straight smooth ride. It is characterized by mountains and valleys, bright and dark moments, clear and unclear outcomes. As we trust God Who never fails, and is in control of the affairs we encounter, we know that He is working behind the scenes in all these circumstances. And so whether we understand or not, we remain thankful knowing that He will not disappoint us. We see and know only in part. But God sees the whole picture and knows what He is doing for our good.There will always be a reason and something to be grateful for. If you wait for only the right moments and circumstances, you will hardly give thanks. Even out of the worst situations of life, when everything seems to have fallen apart, and the hope of living has faded, there will still be one more reason to give thanks. And as you do, several things we shall later share, will happen in your life as you give room to God Almighty to work._Psalm 106:1 “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  his love endures forever.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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." - NIV

We all wish to live stress free lives, with everything we desire available and moving as expected. Yet the reality is not so. It’s difficult sometimes to see the good out of life’s challenging moments, some of which go on for terribly long with more questions than answers, as one challenge follows another. Even after prayer with faith and doing our best, these challenges go on. Some teach that certain occurrences indicate low faith, or a sign we aren’t living right with God. Not necessarily so.

Paul had a fair share of such dilemmas(2 Corinthians 12). He pleaded with God to take away a troubling thorn in his flesh (whatever it was). But God just assured him of sufficient grace while the thorn persisted. All the great men and women of God, tremendously used of God, had (and still have) tough challenging times. But pray and seek God as they may, these challenges allowed by God for His purpose persist. These things are part of the making of great servants of God worth the name. 

Paul out of such experiences wrote in the scripture above, about suffering, that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. All things include the nice and nasty, the straight and unclear, what’s going right or when things seem to fall apart, in joy and pain. When we pray that He removes those ugly situations, He instead gives the grace to go through them as He works behind the scenes, using these experiences, to mold and shape us into what He purposed us to be. This requires patient endurance. The situations will not crush, but make us better. We shouldn’t therefore be perplexed. Let’s not give up.

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Shalom children of God. 

The danger of many things! (2/7/2023)

Luke 10:40-41 "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things…"

As Martha complained to her guest, blaming Him for not caring that her sister wasn’t helping her, Jesus identified the root of the problem. The issue was not what she was complaining about. It was a worried and upset mind full of many things which were not priority. One of this was how to best take care of the guest. Jesus called her name twice to emphasis the weight of the matter.

So much fills and goes on in people’s minds. The reactions to situations reveals alot of these things. This is what leads to over reaction to some situations. Situations only become a means of letting out what has filled the minds. Some even blame God as Martha did blame Jesus. But the God who searches our hearts and minds knows exactly what the root of the problem is, and not where we are directing our anger.

Jesus warned that worries and the cares of this life can make us less fruitful. It blocks a meaningful relationship with God and others. We see, interpret and respond to situations from the things that have filled our minds. This results in love, peace or hate, blame, frustration, anger, etc. But we can conquer all these things through Him Who loved us. Allow God to reveal the true issues in your heart, deal with them and heal you. Cast your cares, those many things, to Him.

Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Matthew 13:22 "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."

Shalom children of God

Discerning seasons and times (19/7/2023)

Luke 12:54-56 "He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?"

Discernment is interpreting happenings. It is seeing beyond what catches the eye into hidden and deeper meanings behind the scenes. Jesus used a common analogy of how people see the cloud and wind patterns in the sky and could tell whether it will rain or not. And it does. He rebuked them for interpreting weather accurately but not discerning seasons and times they lived in.

With the help of modern technology, more precise predictions can be made for several aspects of human existence. Experts and scientists use this to improve life. Beyond acquiring knowledge to guide certain decisions through these predictions, the interpreting of times should direct humanity to God our Creator. God set season s and times and uses them to accomplish His purposes.

By discerning the present times, one can tell that the trends are pointing to something significant. Jesus said (about the signs of the end of the age), that when you see these things, know that the end is near. It is right at the door. How does this inform one’s relationship with God?

Jesus described as hypocrites those who can interpret everything else well, but forget about their relationship with God and preparation for His soon return. Don’t be one of them!

Luke 21:31 "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."

Shalom children of God

The remedy is in one thing! (3/7/2023)

Luke 10:41-42 "The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.” - GNB

The Lord gave a remedy to the many things Martha was troubled about. He referred to what Mary had done as the right thing. She had chosen to sit and listen to Him. It would not be taken away from her. That was stamp of approval of Mary’s approach, and that whoever would want to escape the lure of many things that fill and trouble people’s minds, should do the same.

The reason behind the many things could be competition, to meet genuine human needs, to become like others and conform to the culture around. But the Lord has the best way for each of us. He knows what is best, when it is best, and how to best do it. If we seek His counsel as the one thing, it would streamline all the other things.

Instead of do so many things and fail, why not do the one thing, wait on the Lord, and succeed in all the rest. He is more than willing to guide us in the right fulfilling paths of life. He knows it all. He may not do it or lead us in the way we wish, but if we obey the end result is peace. He never misleads. Do the one thing and live a purposeful enriching life!

Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong."

Psalms 27:4 "I have asked the Lord for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the Lord's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness,  and to ask for his guidance."

Shalom children of God

Are you still so dull? (20/7/2023)

Matthew 15:16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them…"

He had just explained to His disciples what actually defiles and what doesn’t. It was about food and words. What appeared so obvious to Jesus wasn’t that obvious to the disciples. He expected them to have acquired some deeper understanding of things by now, but they hadn’t yet. They were still dull in the spirit.

Discernment requires sensitivity and ability to see and interpret things beyond what is obvious to the eye. But dullness of mind, especially in grasping insights into spiritual things, makes people miss out on what God is communicating or doing. This is why to some, Jesus was/is any other specially gifted man. They get offended in Him. While to those who have known Him, He is their life and everything.

People’s hearts and minds become dull to God through sin, deception of wealth and the cares of life, and a diminished devotional life. Sensitivity and discernment is cultivated, learnt and developed over time. God can’t release much to those too obsessed with other things and dull to understand and take in more. And yet there is unlimited treasure in the spirit for those yearning and hungry enough for more.

John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear."

Hebrews 5:11 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand…"

Shalom children of God

WHILE THERE’S STILL TIME! (R)

WHILE THERE’S STILL TIME! (R) (18/6/2023)

Isaiah 55:6-7 "Seek the LORD while you can find him.  Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." - NLT

Many people tend to trivialize, postpone, ignore or reject certain actions and decisions with a feeling that there is still time. In the end, many opportunities are lost, remorseful regrets experienced later in life, and destinies affected, some of them eternally!

This is true in every aspect of life, our relationship with God inclusive. Many along the way look back with much regret at lost chances. Worse still, will be the eternal regret for those who are now postponing, or ignoring their commitment to God!

God still pleads with us to seek Him while He can be found, to call on Him while He is near. This call will not be so forever. A time comes when it will not be possible to call or seek and find Him any more! Even those in God who keep disobeying or postponing what God tells them to do in His service, should rethink their ways. Hear what David said in Psalm 32:6 “… Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement.” NLT

Apostle Paul wrote about the same; “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ÑLT)

And Jesus, about the irresponsible unprepared virgins at His coming, had this to say; “… Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” (Matthew 25:10)

So, while there is still time and opportunity to give your life to Jesus, be reconciled, and start a relationship with God, and to serve Him, make use of it NOW. One day, it will not be there. It will be too late!

Shalom children of God.