Category: Daily Devotionals

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

So what is enough? ( 24/6/2023)Getting out of the trap of greedSo what is enough? ( 24/6/2023)

Getting out of the trap of greed

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners  except to feast their eyes on them?"

The wise man Solomon, who himself was richer than anyone in his time, made the statement in the scripture above. When people are driven by the love of money and wealth per se, there will never be enough. The more you have, the more you want for yourself. This is a paradox of life. It becomes a continuous trap of seeking for money and wealth just to have it. Is seeking for these things evil? Not at all.

Wealth and money should be guided by purpose. What do you want to achieve in your life or community through these things? If they help you meet basic needs of a comfortable life, make other people’s lives better, and make the world a better place to be as God intended, you experience true satisfaction as you generously share what you acquire. Greed only leads to accumulation of things.

So what’s enough, and how can one get out of the trap of greed? By first appreciating what you have, however little, as you seek for more in godly ways. Don’t kill yourself over what can’t afford now, nor compare yourself with others. We can never be the same, nor have everything we want in life. A grateful heart appreciates any addition. Godliness enables you to see the intangible blessings and to be moved to support others.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Shalom children of God.

Why things don’t satisfy (R) (25/6/2023)

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - KJV

Jesus was teaching about the worries of life; what to eat, drink, cloths to put on, and all the needs and wants of life that drive people crazy. He said there are things everyone needs for a normal life. And God is fully aware about that, and has made provision for them. He theregore asks us not to worry and change our priorities in life to focus on things. Unfortunately, this is exactly what people do.

We were all created for fellowship with God. The things we seek are meant to enable us serve and worship God. The fall of man shifted his attention from the worship of God and His service (which brings true satisfaction), to things which never fulfil. Things are a means to an end, not the end themselves.

When the order of priorities changes, and we seek first these things other than God, we shall never find true satisfaction as it should. This is why people make and accumulate wealth, seek fame, and get the desires of their hearts, but are never satisfied or contented.

In every human soul is a gap that nothing in the world can fill, except God. When you are in right standing and peace with God, whatever of these things you have, little or much, will truly satisfy. Short of that, you may gain the fame, wealth and attention of the whole world, and still feel empty, miserable and lost. Only a living relationship with God makes us complete. All other things are additional.

Proverbs 10:22  "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments,  for this is the duty of all mankind."

Shalom children of God

The power of faith! (26/6/2023)

Mark 9:23-24 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

The boy was epileptic. His father brought him to the disciples to heal him. But they failed. Jesus had stepped aside to pray. When Jesus returned, the boy’s father desperately begged Him to heal his son. But Jesus turned it back to him, saying, all things are possible to him who believes. Just to be sure he doesn’t miss out, the man declared that he believes, but asks Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief. His son was delivered.

Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus attached so much importance to the faith of those who came to Him for help. He only responded to their faith and did nothing without it. Throughout history, the people who achieved great and would be impossible things, were driven by the power of faith that they could do it. Those who gave up and believed that they could do nothing failed. And still do.

There is such great power in faith. In the spirit world, everything revolves around it. Nothing happens without it. Satan’s aim is to make people doubt God and instead shift it so that they believe his lies. He establishes strongholds in their minds. And that’s what gets fulfilled. Jesus said everything is possible for the one who believes, whatever it is they believe. It is fundamental that you are sure of what you believe.

Galatians 5:6 "For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love."

Shalom children of God

Everyone has faith, but where? (27/6/2023)

Luke 8:23-25 "… The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

In the midst of a storm that threatened their lives, Jesus woke up and rebuked it. When it was all calm, He asked His disciples a fundamental question: “Where is your faith?” Didn’t they have faith? They did, but may be not on Jesus to save them from the storm. It was a new experience for them that Jesus could control nature.

Everyone has faith in someone or something at any one time. These objects of faith is what we rely on to save, protect, provide or uphold us in our time of need. This may include our skills, knowledge, resources, close people, connections, abilities, etc. These are fine in various timing and situations of life. But the kind of faith God calls us to have is in Him.

The same question could be asked us today: Where is your faith? Each object of faith that people trust has a limitation. The disciples trust in their expertise in water failed at the storm. They cried out to Jesus for help. Faith in Christ the solid rock assures us that we shall remain steadfast in all life challenges. All else we trust in fails at some point. All other grounds are sinking sand. Only on the solid rock are we truly safe and secure.

So where and in what have you placed your faith?

Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered."

Psalm 125:1 "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever."

Shalom children of God

How faith works (28/6/2023)

Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Here Paul explains how faith towards salvation in Christ is developed and works. It begins with what one hears and accepts in their heart. Once the heart (spirit part of man) believes, the mouth speaks out to confirm it. Salvation then is recieved. This process of faith goes for anything else one believes.

Faith then begins from the spirit realm. Once the heart and mouth agree, they tune the soul and body to think and act. What you believe, you speak about and act on it. All your body systems are tuned to adjust and respond accordingly. Similarly, the spiritual world accordingly responds to your faith. It is man’s faith that gives permission for the spirit world (of God or Satan) to act and manifest physically on earth. This explains the importance of priesthood which connects the spiritual to the physical.

This is the reason we need to watch what we hear and what goes on around us. They contribute to our faith or cause doubt. Also watch what we say. The devil instils fear, which causes people to confess negatively inline with their fears and that gives room to the devil to effect what people have confessed. Confessions inline with God’s word allows God to act according to His declared word. Faith is the key factor between defeat or victory in the spirit.

Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,  my God, in whom I trust.”

Shalom children of God

You can grow your faith! (29/6/2023)

Romans 10:14,17 "But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?…So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ."

Paul continued his discourse on faith. He notes that faith comes from what we hear, and specifically the word of God. The word has to be proclaimed. Those who hear believe it. Those who believe respond by calling on God for help. For faith be born and grow, the right message is an important trigger. The more of the right message we hear and take in, the more our faith will grow from small faith to big faith.

Jesus commended some people for their great faith (Matt 8:10), and challenged others for their little faith (Matt 8:26). This shows categories and levels of faith. All those who came to Him for healing and other help, did so after hearing what He taught and seeing what He did to others. Their initial skepticism and doubt, turned to faith and they too got their victories.

How are you nourishing your faith? There is so much this world bombards our minds with. We need to sieve it. Some is trash. Reject what doesn’t grow your faith and focus on what increases it. Deliberately spend much time on, and consume alot of what increases your faith: that is, the word of God. Faith comes and grows by the word. The disciples once asked Jesus to increase their faith. Are you intent on growing yours?

Luke 17:5 "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."

2 Corinthians 10:15 "Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand…"

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 12:19-20 "And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy;  eat,  drink and be merry." But God said to him, you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" - NIV.

Jesus was responding to a man who wanted Him to use His influence to force his brother to share family wealth. Genuine issue it was, but Jesus looked at the real matter in his heart and taught powerful truths using the parable of the rich fool. One of these truths being comparison between the temporary and eternal. There are things which last temporarily only in this life, and there are those that last beyond the present life into eternity.

Many of the things we crave for, struggle for and fight to get, last but for a while. Soon or later they are gone or we are gone and leave them as the rich fool was strongly reminded! And yet they are the things which occupy most of our lives. They include seeking material welfare, power and authority, fame, etc. But things of etetnal significance elude many people most times. This is comprised in a living relationship with God as Jesus concluded in that parable. At the end of this life, that’s what will matter more than anything else.

If we understood that there is an eternity, and that this life is but a preparation for it, we would live our lives and do things differently with that in mind. Even if one lived to be 100 years, that’s nothing compared to eternity. By the end of those few years, the things we craved for have either faded off and gone or cease to mean much anymore. These things come and go. They are temporary. Let’s live this temporary life with the eternal in mind.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"

Shalom children of God.

At the feet of the Lord (1/7/2023)

Luke 10:38-40 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 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 opened her home and welcomed Jesus as their guest. Her sister Mary sat at His feet listening to Jesus, but Martha was distracted by the preparations. Sitting at the feet was a posture of learning and submission. To Martha’s concerns of her sister not helping with the work instead of just sitting and listening, Jesus said Mary had made a good choice He wouldn’t tell her to change.

So many have opened their lives to God, but are so busy and distracted by many things from actually sitting and listening to Him. It’s not enough to be a believer, and to have Christ in your life. He desires communion. This requires deliberate time of putting aside everything else, focusing on and listening to Him. That’s how we learn and grow in Him. Growth isn’t accidental.

Martha got irritated at her inconsiderate sister and appealed to Jesus for intervention. Mary was calm. When we are not listening and getting guidance from God for daily living, we get frustrated. In God is all the wisdom we need for fruitful and peaceful lives. But we can only benefit from it if we choose to sit and His feet, listen and learn through prayer, study and meditation. Are you a Martha or Mary?

Proverbs 8:10-11"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

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