Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” - NIV

Jesus had visited Mary and Martha. Martha was very busy with preparations and got distracted from listening to Jesus. Mary sat and listened to Him. When she got troubled that her sister wasn’t helping, Martha complained to Jesus. Martha got busy and entangled with many things, which worried and upset her. Jesus’ counsel was that she needed only one thing, to sit under Him and listen to Him.

Learning to sit and take counsel from God Who knows it all, controls all things, knows the end from the begining, and is willing to guide us, is all we need. When God threatened not to go with Israel, Moses prayed that they would rather not move if God wasn’t with them(Ex 33:15-16). His presence meant everything to them. In Him is our comfort, peace, joy, strength, victory, protection, provision and meaning and purpose to life. All the many things we do outside God leave us troubled and upset, and don’t mean much after all.

Many today are troubled and upset, like Martha, with many things life throws. But if only we could learn to wait on God, get His counsel and guiding instructions in all we do, we would remain peaceful. Most troubles that plunge men into destruction could be avoided. And we would soon realise that the one thing makes all the difference in our lives for the better. We shall never want to leave His presence. It will be all we need as king David understood.

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." - NIV

Whenever God does anything new, it is different, unique and better. His promise to Israel was to make a way in the wilderness, and streams to flow in it again. This meant bringing life, renewal, healing, restoration, comfort, peace and joy where there had been destruction, lose and sorrow. This is what we all need in this troublesome we live in.

As the new season dawns, the God of new beginnings has so much more in store for you. Even in the routines of life, He can give new directions, new and better ideas, but only to those who are not held captive by the past and are sensitive enough to discern the new things. It will also require ACTION on our part to deliberately let go of the past, seek His mind for the new and accordingly walk that path.

Paul, a man with turbulent past, encourages us all to forget the past and press on towards what’s ahead. God always does things differently and better. He is never short of new strategies if only we are open minded to perceive and walk in them. Dear child of God, there are glorious moments ahead, despite the challenges of this evil world. I pray you experience them in the Lord this year!

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Shalom children of God. Happy new year!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Kings 3:10-12 "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be." - NIV

King Solomon had just replaced his father David as king. God asked him for his wishes. He asked for wisdom to rule with justice and righteousness. God was pleased. Because he asked for wisdom, along with it came wealth, protection, fame, long life and all other good things. No one superseded his wisdom. Solomon later wrote about wisdom and its supremacy over everything else we may seek for in life.

We spend so much time doing many things in life, and keep failing in the process as we try to meet our goals. If only we learn to first seek God’s wisdom and allow His leading, we would waste far less time and gain much more. We would live better and healthier long lives. It is wisdom that God used to design and make the entire creation. Solomon advised that we shouldn’t be wise in our own eyes, but trust God’s wisdom.

Let’s esteem wisdom and seek it out more than gold or silver, more than the treasures of life. Within wisdom are all the things the nobles and kings of this world seek for, and much more. There is peace beyond measure. There is life. It pleases God and makes our lives much happier and easier.

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.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 6:8-9 "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." - NIV

These words about Noah come amidst a very grim environment of a very evil society. Everyone thought, planned and did evil. The fallen angels had married daughters of men and produced giants. The heart of God was grieved at the magnitude of sin in the world. Its was in this scenario that Noah is described as a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. The contrast between Noah and the rest of the people, is like contrasting day and night. The secret to his righteous life and favour was because he walked with God.

The Lord destroyed the earth with a flood as a result of increase of evil. But as men descended from Noah increased on earth, evil thrived again. Todate, our world is characterized by evil in every sphere, even getting worse as we draw towards the end of the age. Jesus said evil will increase and the love of many will grow cold (Matt 24:12). Paul said it too (1Tim 4:1).Can one live righteously amidst such evil everywhere? The answer is yes. Because it is not by might nor by power of men, but by His Spirit.

Just as Noah walked with God and lived righteously in a terribly evil environment, so can we if we choose to walk with, and worthy of God. There is every temptation to be part of the evil environment and to live as everyone else does. Evil has become glorified and celebrated. Good has become bad, and vice versa. But we can choose to live for God. It is not easy, but worthwhile. The Holy Spirit is available to enable us do so. We just can’t make it on our own. It’s by God’s grace alone we are saved and sustained.

Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 6:6-8 "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." - NIV

Its amazing that little creatures in nature can teach us huge lessons in life. Man is the highest creation of God, the only one made in the image and likeness of God. The rest of the animals were not. And it was to man that the task of managing creation was given – todate. This required planning and foresight. God created all things and allowed man to discover hidden treasures and benefit from creation.

The scriptures above and others following, were written to address laziness and its effects in people. The example of ants working so hard to make their food, knowing which season to look for it and to store it for a tough time ahead, teaches about planning ahead of time. Unfortunately, man even with all the knowledge and intellect God gave, with the opportunities available, knowing seasons, still goes hungry and remains poor! Many reasons could be given for this, but its shameful for little creatures without much reason to do better than man in planning!

This is a call to hard work, strategic planning, and a commitment to achieve. There are things God can do, but there are things He expects as to do. Do not expect God to do what you should be doing. Plan, anticipate, think ahead, make commitments, persevere and work hard. Sustained success is never accidental. It takes deliberate effort. And God blesses such endeavours, not idleness and laziness.

May 2023 be a fruitful year for you!

Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

Happy new year to you and your loved ones.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope… Therefore encourage one another with these words."

The lose of loved ones can be devastating. This series serves to encourage us in such moments. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians not to mourn like those who have no hope. These are people who die outside the Lord and are lost forever. But to those in Christ, physical death is like sleep. They will be resurrected and together with those alive at Christ’s coming, be joined with the Lord. And forever we shall be with the Lord. The wicked have no such hope. They will be resurected to eternal damnation (John 5:29)!

Physical death to the believer in Christ is a glorious expectation. Painful as it is because of lose of fellowship, the believer rests from their earthly labour, goes to be with the Lord in perfect peace and joy to a grand reception into his heavenly home. Paul longed for it. He knew the glorious hope ahead of him, but purposed to still remain in the body to offer more useful service to others.

No one living in close communion with God should fear death. We pray we live our full years on earth as we serve God’s purpose. When this is done, we should be ready to heed the call to go home where we shall be with the Lord and united with the faithful saints who went ahead of us. Forever our pains, tears, sorrow, rejection, uncertainty and the trials of this life will be no more! That’s the glorious hope the believer can look forward to in death. Hallelujah!

Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants."

Philippians 1:22-24 "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

James 3:14-16 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” – NIV

James compares two kinds of wisdom: godly and worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is characterized by bitter envy selfish motives, pride, leading to disorder and every form of evil practice. He calls it earthly, unspiritual and demonic. It doesn’t come from heaven, but from Satan who inspires all these traits in people. Whenever you see people who claim to be wise, and yet manifest them, they are not wise in God’s sight.

Not all that appears wise and appealing, is from God. There are many intelligent people, shrewd, skilled in deception and manipulation as they commit evil of all kinds. Others may applaud their ‘wisdom’ as heroic. As long as it promotes fights, divisions, hatred and other evils, that’s demonic wisdom, because Satan’s mission is to steal, kill and destroy.

James says no one should boast about such kind of wisdom. It denies the truth and righteousness as it uses lies to promote wicked schemes. It is what characterises much of our world today as people plan evil and work towards bringing others down using their positions, intellect and other advantages. Desist from such.

Proverbs 1:10, 15-16 “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them…my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.”

Shalom children of God.