Category: Daily Devotionals

Look at the positive side

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - NIV

Paul is describing situations they were undergoing as they preached the gospel. They bordered on life and death, and yet he is so positive and upbeat about it all. Physically, they were really suffering, beaten and tortured, their bodies wasting away. This was very distressing. But he chose to look beyond the physical sufferings to what this was achieving in his inner man and the great glory ahead.

This attitude was evident in all his writings. If we only look at the pains, challenges and all the negatives in life, it is a guarantee that we will remained stressed all our lives. Rather focus on the good that will come our of those challenges. Tell yourself that it will be well, you will get over it, this too will come to pass. There are far better things that will come out of these trials.

Jesus looked beyond the excruciating pain of the cross to the joy that lay ahead. That made Him endure the cross and all the bitter suffering he went through. The cross and the present trials are not the end. There is victory, joy, and a crown ahead. Such an attitude will make you fight on, press on to the end against all the odds without losing heart. All who circum to stress only focus on the problem at hand.

Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Hebrews 12:2-3 "…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalms 68:1-2 "God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat. As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence." - GNB

The psalmist made a reflection of what happened when God was with them in the battle field. When God fought for them, it was sure victory. Their enemies, regardless of numbers and superior weapons, would be scattered in defeat just as smoke disappears with the wind, and wax freely melts with fire.

Our battles of life become much easier when God is in our midst and allowed to take control and lead. Challenges like huge mountains, troubles roaring like a stormy sea that wants to destroy us, all give way when God arises. Sometimes God seems too far and has left us alone. The enemy seems to be winning and our faith diminishes. It is not so. He will show up for you.

And when God arises, He clears all these and the huge mountains we face disappear, the storms raging against us immediately cease. When Jesus in the boat arose from sleep and rebuked the storm, it ceased immediately. The disciples had struggled alone to counter the storm in vain. You may have struggled alone for long using your knowledge and wisdom to solve problems. Now let God arise over your situation. And the enemy will scatter. And victory comes to you.

Mark 4:39-41 "Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?” But they were terribly afraid and said to one another, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 17:37 "The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

The powerful testimony of a young war inexperienced David as he prepared to faced the giant, Goliath. All Israel had fled from him. King Saul helplessly and desperately sought anyone who could fight Goliath, promising many things. But still no one came until David, a shepherd boy despised by his brothers, showed up. When king Saul doubted him, he gave his testimony of killing the lion and bear, and rescuing the sheep, God helping him.

God does many things to us. Those testimonies build and strengthen our faith to face even bigger challenges, knowing that the God Who did it last time will do it again. With that, we boldly match forth against the giants, the mountains, the roaring seas and the forces of hell. And surely we overcome with that faith.

Testimonies never lie. The Sanhedrin couldn’t deny the miracle the apostles had performed on the cripple. Satan can’t cover it up. The man born blind stood his ground against the accusers of Jesus because he was blind but could now see. Friends, our testimonies are powerful weapons to overcome. It defies even death! Apart from the blood, we overcome and reign over the devil and situations through our testimony.

Revelation 12:11 "They triumphed over him  by the blood of the Lamb  and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

John 9:25 "He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Acts 4:14 "But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say."

Shalom children of God

Be an extension of God’s love and hand (20/5/2023)

Matthew 25:40, 44-45 "Then the King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'… "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing cloths or sick or in prison, and did not help you? ' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of these, you did not do for me.'" - NIV

Jesus was about to go. He spoke  parables relating to the future. This was one of them about how God will judge us when we appear before Him. The emphasis was on service to humanity as service to God. Every opportunity to do good to people, meet a need of those around us, minister to the sick, helpless, imprisoned or marginalized, touches God’s heart. Jesus calls them His brothers. Those are all ministry opportunities. Some think of ministry only to mean the big activities. Here Jesus shows another line of ministry, small but significant before God.

We will always have needy people among us. Let our hearts be tender to them as we support and help whenever there is need. Serve them using your resources as though you are serving God from whom you shall recieve reward. Some of those acts of love and kindness will make someone’s life count and worth living.

Such service is so significant to God that Jesus noted they will be the basis of judgment and determine eternal destiny. The good acts are not the basis of our salvation, for no man is saved by them, but by grace. They should be a reflection of our relationship with the God Who loves and cares for all His people. When we do these, we become an extension of the hand and love of God to the world. 

Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me! – Jesus

Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Shalom children of God.

You are not just part of the crowd! (4/6/2023)

Luke 8:47-48 "Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

She had bled for twelve years. She was unclean and not supposed to be in public by law. Weak as she was, she purposed to go unnoticed through the thick crowd to touch Jesus’ garment. She was not only instantly healed, but Jesus drew His attention and that of the whole crowd to her, because of her faith. She blessed and sent her away in peace.

There are many who, because of their low status, feeling of rejection or inferiority or the things they have done, think they are just part of the crowd. They think so low of themselves. That may be true with people who show partiality as they despise others. But God loves and knows each of us by name. You are not just among the crowd. You are individually special to God. He knows you by name and you have a special place in His plans.

Blind Bartimaues wasn’t just a beggar among the crowd. Jesus recognised him. Men despised him, but Jesus stopped and personally attended to him. Regardless of your background, social or economic status, you are valuable to God. No one is useless to Him, because we were all created in His image. Come to Him as you are. See what Jesus did to the leper;

Mark 1:40-42 "A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged him for help. “If you want to,” he said, “you can make me clean.” Jesus was filled with pity, and stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the disease left the man, and he was clean."

Shalom children of God.

Prepare for and manage change

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Exodus 16:2-3 "In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

The Israelites had been delivered from Egyptian slavery. They had been there for 430 years. They were destined to Canaan, a land of freedom and plenty. Afew days into the desert, they faced the challenge of water and meat. They complained bitterly against Moses and Aaron, preferring to have remained in slavery than face challenges on their way to freedom in the land flowing with milk and honey.

Such is the difficulty of change. Much as they had cried out to be delivered from their task masters, witnessed the many miracles God performed in their deliverance, they were still scared of the unknown. They couldn’t trust the same God to safely take them to Canaan. They wished to have remained in Egypt in slavery than go to new places by faith in God. This is how many people resist change and miss out on what God has prepared for them.

Change can be very distressing to undertake. The lazy, unprepared, undetermined, fearful and risk averse will give up and rather maintain the status quo than go through the stress and pain of change for the better. And yet change is inevitable in life and the only means to transformation and progress. It will always come, one way or another. Instead of ignoring, prepare and face it. If change finds one unprepared, it can be destructive. If mentally prepared, you will not be stressed whatever the discomfort it comes with. It will be to your advantage.

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." - NIV

Paul had raised many issues Timothy was to avoid and what to focus on. He had to be selective if he was to remain focused in ministry. There are battles to fight. Some are unnecessary because they lead us away from the faith. But the good ones we are to fight are those that sustain us in the faith and enable us take hold of eternal life to which we were called.

One war strategy is diversion of the enemy into what is trivial. While they concentrate on that, a major offensive attack is launched which throws them off balance and get defeated. Satan is a strategist using trickery. He has led many well meaning Christians into trivial and unnecessary fights against each other for things. They devour each other while the real enemy escapes! Those are not good fights.

Paul said he was not fighting like a boxer hitting the air. He knew where exactly to throw the punch. At the end of his life, he said he had fought the good fight and kept the faith. So many are punching the ‘air’ wasting alot of time and energy on what is worthless and doesn’t build them up. A battle is only worthwhile if it sustains you in the faith to the end. I pray God helps us to discern our battles, leave out what’s useless and focus on the worthwhile ones.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 32:28,31 "Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” … The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip." - NIV

Jacob was in such a fix. He was to face his brother Esau, whose birthright he had taken by fraud. The rift between them was deep. It was now over 20 years since. Yet he had no choice, but to go and face him. He sent all his animals and family ahead.

That night, he was alone, to sort himself out with God. A man wrestled the whole night with him, but couldn’t prevail. Later, he blessed him by changing his name from Jacob (the cheat, fraudster) to Israel (the one who prevails with God and men). That changed his story forever!

In the course of the fight, his hip was wrenched. As he crossed over to meet his Esau, he limped. But he had prevailed with God, before going to face the greatest fear of his life. Esau, who came ready to fight in revenge with 400 men, was completely dealt with by God. Instead of fight Jacob, they hugged and reunited in love. It was unbelievable to Jacob, but true!

If only we could learn to sort things with God in prayer as we face the challenges of our lives, before facing men! When we prevail with God, He deals with our situations. By the time we face them, everything has been streamlined. Turning to God establishes our faith in Him alone and gives Him lee way to fully step into our situations. Our bodies may be ‘limping’, weakened, subjected, but victory is settled in the spirit. And that’s what matters.

Joshua 23:10 "One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised."

Shalom children of God.

Love: Everyone needs it! (R)(20/5/2023)

1John 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."- NIV

Every human being has an inherent longing for love. This goes for all creation as well. This is because the God who created us is love. He put His nature of love in  us. Our lives are fulfilled only in the context of love. The greatest achievements of men were/are spured on by the force of love. The vilest offenders/criminals are most likely products of love deprivation. Love always comes to the equation, making the whole difference in relationships.

Imagine a world were everyone loved each other regardless of status, possessions, race or any differences. We are all human and deserve love before we think of race, tribe, status, religious or political affiliations. We wouldn’t have wars and all these destructive tendencies in the world today. We would genuinely seek peaceful ways of solving our problems. We would not desire to hurt others so as to make ourselves happy, rejoicing in their pain.

God’s kind of love; unconditional, everlasting, holy and pure, has been lavished on us. The world has unfortunately redefined love to mean what it is not. It’s counterfeit, impure, conditional love.  That’s why it does not have the effect God’s love has.

God put His kind of love in us and He expects us to replicate it to others. If we do so, we will flavor our world with God's wonderful love, truly be its light and salt (Matt 5:13, 14). Life is worth living only with true love!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)

Shalom children of God.

Behold! I am God! (R) (5/6/2023)

Isaiah 44:6 "This is what the LORD says---- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." - NIV

Every time we hear words, we want to know who spoke them. This is important because behind the words is authority of the speaker, and thus the power and authenticity of the word. A word spoken by an ordinary person carries very little or no weight. Few will bother about them. He has no capacity or power to effect them. But a similar word spoken by one in authority, like a head of state, is not taken lightly because of the authority and power they hold and the ability to effect them.  

Whenever we read the Bible, we are recieving words from the Almighty, all powerful, all knowing God. There is no other god or world authority greater or more powerful than Him, including the most powerful armies in the world today. He is the first and last, the Most High. He created everything we see or don’t see. In a moment He can snap out the most powerful forces of human might. Ask the powerful king Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh and Herod.

And He declares that He is our God, our Redeemer, Savior, Protector, an ever present help in times of trouble,  and a loving Father! He is far stronger than all our enemies combined, greater than all our challenges and problems put together. All He asks of us is to simply trust Him. This is too wonderful to be true, and yet it is! Trust Him with all your problems, dilemmas or impossibilities. He alone is God and there is no other! He is your Father.

Isaiah 40:25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One."

Shalom children of God.