Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 "Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." - NIV

Israel was about to enter the promised land. But central to inheriting this promise was their commitment to hear and obey God’s word and instructions. The decrees and laws they were given were complete instructions. They were neither to add nor subtract anything from it, but to keep them. But they failed and alot of disastrous effects followed.

When God speaks, He is not guessing. He knows the end from the begining, and knows what exactly He is saying. The absolutnesss, credibility and finality of God’s word is based on His nature and character. God is God alone. He is all wise, all knowing, all powerful and above Him is no other. Even the wisdom that man may want to use to add to, or subtract from God’s word, is from God.

Satan is also in the mission of distorting the credibility of God’s word and to cast doubt in people’s minds about God. But whatever Satan, or man under satan’s influence may want to do to add to or subtract from God’s word, the word of God remains the truth. His word is forever settled. John solemnly warned against the same as he concluded the book of revelation.

Revelation 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

Psalm 119:89 "Your word, Lord, is eternal;  it stands firm in the heavens."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Job 42:3,5-6 "You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of you  but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself  and repent in dust and ashes.” - NIV

He had justified himself. He dared God to come and answer him, wondering why He sent him such bitter suffering. His friends too accused him of sining against God for such suffering to come Job’s way. Everyone appeared wise and knowledgeable in their own way. But when God spoke and described His creation, whatever they thought was high and lofty human wisdom faded away.

God’s few questions to Job totally humbled him. He had heard about God whom he believed in, but when God revealed Himself in the splendor of His wisdom and glory, all Job could do was to repent. This is how many people are, trusting their own wisdom to challenge and even accuse God. They despise, seek to correct and discredit His word.

It is futile to challenge God’s wisdom. Satan tried it. He has stired up people in history to challenge God. King Nebuchadnezzar did. Saul of Tarsus did. Some contemporary kings and rulers, using their God given power and authority, have tried to appear wiser than God. Everyone who does it learns a lesson; that the highest wisdom men is foolishness to God. They all end in failure. God is God alone. Besides Him is no other. We can only trust, honour and worship Him.

Daniel 4:37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;  you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart  you, God, will not despise." - NIV

King David was described as a man after God’s heart. One of the key attributes to his state of heart that touched God, is what is described in psalm 51. He committed adultery, killed the husband of Bathsheba, attempted to conceal the sin and married her. God was angry with him and sent a prophet to rebuke him. His response made the whole difference.

David quickly acknowledged and deeply repented of his sin before God. Acknowledgement and repentance of sin allows God to forgive, draw close, heal, restore and do what He wants to do in one’s life. Some find it hard to apologise and acknowledge failure. They will instead find excuses to cover up the wrong they have done or blame others. Others do more ‘good works’ to appease God. But all He wants is a truly repentant heart.

Repentance takes humility, characterised by genuine brokenness of heart when we do wrong. We faulter in many ways. Progress and growth in our walk with God lies in admiting that we fail and always need God’s help. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. That’s the secret to a heart after God. He will not despise it.

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

James 4:6 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud   but shows favor to the humble.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - NIV

In this psalm, we learn that God was involved in our creation. Before we existed, He knew us and set our days. He molded us to be what we are. He knows our every thought and word before we even think and speak. No where can we hide from him since He fills the entire universe. He has our best interests in mind. We are His best.

So thorough is God’s knowledge and plan for us that nothing takes Him by surprise. He planned for all our days before we were born. He has everything lined up already. The best we can do is to submit to His leading to benefit from all He has for us. It has been man’s tendency to hide from God since the fall. That’s satan’s strategy to deny us the best God our Father has for us.

Friend, God knows us in and out. All our times and lives are in His hand. Let’s purpose to live for Him, and all will be well for us. At the end, we can only find true meaning and purpose to life by aligning ourselves to His master plan. All else outside this is a gamble!

Jeremiah 1:5 “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 121:7-8 "The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both know and forever." - NLT

The psalmist observed that God who protects us is maker of heaven and earth, and does not slumber nor sleep. He is committed and ever present with us day and night. Therefore, the fears of day or night, and all harm, will not touch us in our coming in and going out. How wonderful! Nothing of what scares and threatens us was left to chance. He Who watches over our lives does so both now and forever!

Everyone has fears and needs security from harm as a basic human need. We do many things in life to be safe and secure. But we shouldn’t entirely rely on them and ignore God. The best of human efforts have limits. But ultimately our protection in all ways comes from God Who knows it all, sees it all, is present in all situations and has our best interests in all things.

Sometimes it may appear like God failed to protect us. But we have no idea what happens behind the scenes, the things that could have gone worse. He never disappoints, leaves nor forsakes His own, those who put their trust in Him. That’s His commitment. He never fails to fulfill it.

APsalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."

Psalm 91:1,14-15 "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

Shalom children of God.

Meditative reflection of Psalm 23

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
(I acknowledge the LORD God Almighty, as my Shepherd and purposefully take refuge in Him. The love, care, protection, provision and presence of my Shepherd God, is enough for me. I need nothing more, for in Him dwells all the riches to meet my every need as His sheep)

Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
(He meets my every need, as a sheep would have its fill of lush green pastures and cool fresh waters. He settles my mind, as He leads me in quiet peace, hemed around from every side in His protective presence, free from harm)

Psalm 23:3
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(Even if I stray from His ways, and waves of trouble destabilize my soul, He restores me to peaceful rest in Himself and then guides me in paths of righteousness to follow. He does this for His name’s sake. He has my best interests in mind)

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(There may be times of extreme life trials in which hope of living seems to fade and death is so close. Even in that point I shall not fear. Your assured presence will not fail and leave me to die in the hand of the enemy. The shepherd’s rod and staff in your hand, for correction, protection and safety, gives me confidence of your unfailing protection)

Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
(As if to confound my enemies and those who seek my demise more, in their full sight, you set a feast of celebration and victory for me. The enemy only helplessly watches my victory celebration, completely defeated. My head is anointed, in preparation for your service, and your bountiful blessings I can’t fully contain as they flow over)

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(Is this victory, favor, love and goodness of God for me temporary? No. But for as long as I live in Him. For this reason, I purpose to dwell in His secure comforting presence, out of the reach of the enemy, from where I was hewn and truly belong, forever).

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 48:1 "Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel-- but not in truth or righteousness--" - NIV

Whenever people are inaugurated into certain positions of responsibility and leadership, or become witnesses, they are made to swear or take oaths. The symbol of their swearing is their object of faith or worship according to their religion. Christians use the Bible and invoke God’s name. Such swearing is a commitment to undertake their duties seriously, to tell only the truth and to execute only what is just and right under God’s watchful eye.

Unfortunately, many swear and invoke God’s name, but are not committed to doing what is right and pleases God. The people who vow to protect and defend truth, justice and righteousness are the very ones who use their positions of power and authority to commit injustice, steal, kill, oppress, divert public resources for themselves, abuse their offices, betray the people they are leading and commit all sorts of evil they vowed before God not to do. It shows they didn’t mean what they vowed or took their oaths lightly!

That’s how Israel was. They took their vows in God’s name as routine, but were not actually committed to truth and righteousness. Many, called by God’s name today, are unashamedly part of the evils of society yet they made a pledge to bring glory to God! That’s how we lose our saltiness and light to the world. When you make any commitment in God’s name, fulfill it in truth, justice and righteousness. Otherwise, you take His name in vain, bring it to shame, and become liar!

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 12:5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." - NIV

Throughout the Bible, the fear of God is commanded. Jesus in the verse above reiterates the same. There are different kinds of fear. One is a dreadful, terrorizing, paralyzing fear caused by fear of harm or punishment. The other is reverential, empowering fear out of deep respect and loyalty. Our fear of God should reverential fear, loving what He loves and hating what He hates.

The fear of God makes us shun evil and pursue holiness. It makes us voluntarily yield to God out of a willing submissive heart. Peter calls it living in ‘reverent fear’ (1Peter 1:17). God always makes a plea for people to choose for themselves to follow Him, not out of compulsive threatening fear, but drawn by love. Satan’s method, on the hand, is to impose threatening dreadful paralyzing fear. The fear of God liberates. Satans fear enslaves.

However, lest people take His kindness for granted, God also warns of the consequences of the choices we make without fearing Him, but still leaves us to choose. Scripture is full of such warnings. That’s whyJesus warned His listeners on whom to fear, for the reason that He has power to cause both physical and eternal death in hell. Choose to fear God.

Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil…"
Exodus 20:20, "Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - NIV

God strongly spoke to remind Israel about His unlimited power over humanity and His incomparability with idols or anything in all creation. Then He comes to the point of His support for those who trust in Him. God never gets tired or weary, is unlimited and Almighty.

As mortal beings, we get tired and wear out. We are weak and fail in many things because we are limited. But God promises to give us strength in life’s weak moments. Youths are the epitome of human strength. They have all the energy and vigor to do whatever they wish. But being human, they still get tired, wear out, stumble and fall. This equally represents the things we are good, experienced and skilled at. A time comes that we fail even in the things we do best.

Human abilities at their best can fail. That’s when we need external support from the One who never gets tired or weary. We get are tired and burn out. But as we trust and submit to God, He renews our strength like the old eagles which renew themselves and come back fresh and strong. It’s only then we can steadfastly move on with the Lord, year in year out, without quiting. Let’s learn to hope in God. So did the psalmist write;

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalms 73:26)

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - NIV

Most people are conversant with the statement in Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.” There is truly nothing impossible with God Almighty. He can do the impossible beyond what man can think or imagine. True that as it is, it’s important to know there are things which are impossible for God to do.

James notes that every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father Who does not change like shifting shadows. God is forever true to Who He is, what He has promised and committed Himself to do. He does not change, nor can He be manipulated to do anything contrary to His nature. God will never lie, change, nor sin in any way. If He did, that would make Him unreliable and put the credibility of His word to question. Thank God, that will never happen!

Some use God’s name in desires and interests contrary to God’s nature. Not everything people do in God’s name is from Him, in His will or allowed by Him. Others, because they desperately want certain things in certain ways, plead with God to favor them. God is powerful to do anything, but principled enough not to go against His nature and word to favor you. Let’s know Him and flow with His ways and nature. He is obliged to only do what’s in His word, will and character.

Malachi 3:6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

Numbers 23:19 "God is not human, that he should lie,  not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
Titus 1:2 "…in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time…"

Shalom children of God.