Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 8:35-37 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" - NIV

Jesus had just told His disciples the sufferings and death that awaited Him. Peter, under Satan’s influence, rebuked Jesus, saying such things should not happen to Him. Jesus in turn rebukes Satan who was behind the thoughts. Then Jesus taught the price of discipleship; it costs ones whole life. Among these is choosing between gaining the world to save one’s life or forsaking the evil pleasures of the world and securing your soul before God.

We go through this every day. The devil who is the god of the worldly evil system, is busy luring people into his traps. It is a battle for people’s souls. Whatever he offers is in exchange for your soul. It is more than fun, pleasure, entertainment or whatever one may call it. You can’t have both the evil worldly system and the salvation of your soul. Whatever you may gain from the world; wealth, fame, pleasure or great achievements at the expense of your soul is total lose – into eternity!

Jesus said there is nothing one can exchange for their soul. Your soul is more important than anything you could ever gain in all the world. The best attention and eternal security you can give your soul is to have a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Never exchange your soul for anything the devil, through the evil worldly systems, may offer. Give your life to Jesus and live for Him.

Luke 9:24-25 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Shalom children of God.

The idolatry of greed! (22/6/2023)

Ephesians 5:5 "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

Paul mentions several things that should not even be associated with those who call on God’s name. With firm certainty, he specifically mentions immorality, impurity and greed as hindrances to God’s kingdom. No one who loves and practices them has a place in God’s kingdom. Paul says we can be sure of that! Let’s not be deceived. It is that clear.

Idolatry is love and worship of anything else apart from God Almighty to Whom all praise, worship, glory and honour is due. Greed is the amassing of things only for oneself. It uses very ungodly methods to achieve this objective, including cheating, stealing, oppression,diversion or even murder to acquire things for oneself. In greed, money and things are loved and worshipped more than God. And that’s why it is described as idolatry.

So many are silently driven by greed in the way they make wealth. Some use their positions and might to displace the weak and vulnerable. Workers cheat their employers because of greed, as do professionals throw ethics away. Some use ministry as a means to financial and material gain. This explains the manipulations and extortions on vulnerable people seeking spiritual help.

Whichever way certain actions may be explained, if greed is the underlying motive, that’s idolatry. Jesus warned against all forms of greed. Let’s heed it.

Luke 12:15 "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

1 Thessalonians 2:5 "You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness."

Shalom children of God.

How good is the soil of your heart? (R) (8/7/2023)

Luke 8:11,15 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God…But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."- NIV

Teaching about how people receive the word into their lives, Jesus gave the parable of the sower. As the seed was scattered, it fell in various places; the road, on shallow soil on a rock, among thorns and on good soil. These represent different hearts. The seed of God’s word is being preached to everyone, but the outcome is determined by the state of the individual hearts.

Any ground must be prepared before seed can be sown if a harvest is expected. Likewise, our hearts should be prepared to recieve the word of God if it must transform us and bear fruit. It’s incumbent upon each one, in humility, to consider the state of their hearts before God. The same word sown in different hearts, bears no fruit or plenty of it – depending on the heart preparation and reception.

God leaves us with the choice to allow the word to work or not. He doesn’t force His way into our lives. But once the heart is ready and receptive, the transformative power of the word will be evident and the fruit will be seen. And everyone will enjoy the fruit to their pleasure and God’s glory. Fruit doesn’t lie.

Matthew 12:35 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

Shalom children of God.

Now we see and know in part (R) (26/7/2023)

1 Corinthians 13:9,10,12 "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears…Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." - NIV

One of the disturbing things in our relationship with God is thinking we have got something right, only for it to manifest very differently. For example, we know His will about healing, His various promises about provision, protection, or other aspects of life. But believe and act as we may, sometimes the exact opposite happens and we are left wondering, like Mary and Martha, Paul or Job, whether God failed us or something went wrong.

Paul was comparing the present and what is yet to be on the other side of eternity. We are still in the imperfect, where we see poorly, know and prophesy(speak forth) only in part as far as is revealed. What is revealed to us now is only a glimpse of the whole. Being in Christ and in the faith, but still living in this sin-laden and broken world, leaves us affected by the effects of the fall in many ways. But a day will come when imperfect will be replaced by the perfect, then we shall see clearly and fully understand why.

As this stands, there will be many things we will not know fully here in this life. We will still have questions without answers about them. God may remain silent and only supply sufficient grace to carry us through them. It doesn’t mean He enjoys seeing us suffer, or has failed, or that you sinned for certain strange things to happen to you. In His Sovereignty and wisdom beyond our own, He knows why. Let’s not give up.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Shalom children of God.

The dangers of greed! (23/6/2023)

1 Timothy 6:9-10 "But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." - NLT

Greed without self control drives people to seek wealth at all costs. Paul notes that such people fall into temptation, are trapped by foolish and harmful desires which eventually lead to their ruin and destruction. Their craving for money in evil ways makes them derail from the true faith and end up with many sorrows, some with eternal consequences. It leads to wrong doctrines and all sorts of scandals.

Because of the deception of wealth, people driven by greed are not fruitful in their relationship with God. They remain carnal and infants in the faith despite the years in salvation. About those influenced by wealth, Jesus said “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the love of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” (Matthew 13:22).

Greed destroys relationships when its victims cheat, oppress, fight, manipulate, covet and steal from others to make wealth. All they think of is how to enrich themselves, not caring how others are. They are arrogant, don’t give and never have enough. The more they get, the more they want. They become slaves of things and never live to enjoy. It’s a life of bondage to things. They live empty lives when they derive meaning and purpose to life from material things which never satisfy!

Paslm 62:10 "Don't make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don't make it the centre of your life."

Proverbs 23:4 "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit."

Shalom children of God

Sin, sickness and faith (9/7/2023)

Matthew 9:2,6 "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”… But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

The man was sick and paralyzed. Four men carried him. In expression of their faith, they broke through the roof and placed the sick man before Jesus. He saw their faith and pronounced forgiveness of sin first, then healed him. Jesus linked the three; faith, forgiveness of sin and healing.

Some of the sicknesses people suffer are effects of sin. Before they can be healed, sin has to be dealt with. Faith in Christ, the One who forgives sins, brings forgiveness of sin and then the healing. That’s what happened in this scenario. But the Pharisees didn’t understand this and accused him of blasphemy.

James emphasised the same when he linked faith, confession of sins and healing. When the Spirit leads that this order is followed for healing to happen, please do. When one only asks for healing and ignores the need to deal with sin which could be attached to the sickness, healing may delay or not happen.

Jesus told the paralyzed man He healed at the pool to sin no more lest a worse thing happens to him (John 5:14). It means his previous condition was linked to sin, which if he went back to, other worse things would happen to him.

James 5:15-16 "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Shalom children of God.