Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 John 1:1-2 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." - NIV

John the apostle was one of the twelve apostles with Jesus. He wrote this letter to encourage the believers in various places facing persecution for their faith. Lest they were tempted to think what they believed was not genuine, he emphasized that they had heard, seen and even touched the Jesus they proclaimed. He is the Word of life. In Him we have eternal life.

Everyone wants to be sure of what they are following. Unfortunately some follow under deception. The gospel message is authentic because those who had first hand experience with Jesus wrote and passed it on to us. It is not hear say. Satan has tried all these years to destroy the Bible and the authenticity of the gospel message in vain. It stands the test of time because it originates from God Himself.

In the face of so much deception and attempts by the enemy to distort the truth, we can be encouraged that what we have believed is true. Jesus said no one can do anything against the truth, but for the truth. Never fall into temptation to abandon your faith in Christ. And watch out for deception within the faith by being rooted and established in Him.

2 Timothy 1:12 "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 25:30-34 "He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. ) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." - NIV

What a story! Esau was very hungry. Jacob took advantage of his vulnerable state to give him food as he cheats him of his birthright. At that point in time, the birthright meant nothing to Esau because of his hunger. He was about to die. He despised and forsook it lost it forever!

We are always making decisions about everything in life. Some are small and others are serious decisions with life long and eternal significance. Some are taken ignorantly or jokingly without due consideration of the consequences. Some do it for fun, pleasure, out of anger, revenge, etc. Whichever way, however small or big, our decisions eventually shape our destinies for better or worse.

At our most unstable emotional, social, spiritual or economic state, we are very susceptible to wrong decisions. And the devil takes advantage. Watch what you decide when very angry or very happy, or when you very little information and yet making major decisions in life. Many regret later, and some forever when it is too late to change! Esau lost it. He wanted to get abit of the blessings later amidst so much tears, but it was gone, forever!

Let the solid counsel of God’s word guide your decisions this year.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

James 3:13,17-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom… But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." - NIV

James in his comparison of Godly and worldly wisdom, gives characteristics of the God kind of wisdom. It includes living a good life in humility. Wisdom from God is pure, with no hidden ill intentions as drawn from God Whose heart is pure. It is also peace-loving, seeking peace and not chaos in whatever the person does.

This wisdom is considerate, feeling for others. It is also submissive, respecting and appreciating the value in others. In bearing with the failings of others, wisdom makes people show mercy to others. Jesus said the merciful are happy people, and they will be shown mercy too. Wisdom makes a person produce and be filled with good fruit. People will enjoy your company.

God’s wisdom is impartial and sincere in dealing with others. These are becoming rare traits among people. Only God enables us treat others without favouritism and in sincerity of heart without compromising with evil. All who have God’s kind of wisdom, can be identified by these characteristics. Are you wise from God’s or worldly perspective?

Proverbs 3:13-14 "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love."- NIV

Paul’s letter to the Galatians primarily addressed conflict between the gospel and the law to recieve salvation and attain right standing with God. He taught that in Christ, one has been freed from the numerous requirements of the law to be righteous. But lest that new found freedom is abused, he cautioned that the purpose of the freedom was to serve others and not indulge the flesh.

Freedom is a nice word and state to be. People have misunderstood it to mean doing anything one likes without restrain. Freedom has its boundaries as well. In Christ, we are saved and set free to serve others in humility and love. All God’s law is summarized in love, for God and others.

Unrestrained freedom is dangerous. Society needs guiding rules and regulations to properly manage freedom. All the weird things people do in the name of freedom become destructive to themselves and others. The flesh has its evil desires contrary to God. If given liberty under demonic influence, it instead leads away from God. Enjoy your freedom in Christ as you serve God and others in humility and love.

1 Peter 2:16 "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Jeremiah 1:4-5 "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nation's." - NIV

Among some of the most important questions in life every human being should ask is, ‘why was I created?’ Why do I exist?’ It’s noteworthy that we are no accidents in this world. We have a Creator God, Who must have had a definite reason for creating us. God told Jeremiah he was made for a specific role even before he came to existence. And so is each of us.

We can only understand the purpose of anything from the mind of its maker. That’s why we have operating manuals for any new item to guide on its best way to use and maximize its benefits. Looking elsewhere for alternative opinions is misleading. Likewise, for anyone of us to find our purpose of existence so as to live meaningfully, we must, of necessity, get back to our Creator.

Life outside God its Maker is a gamble. We may try to fill it up with the needs and wants of life, but these can never define us. The more we acquire, the more we want and the more empty we feel. The earlier we go beyond these things to understand our Creator’s purpose for our lives, the quicker the life puzzle fits in. And that’s of paramount importance to know.

Whatever else we acquire in this life are simply to enable us become what we were made for. They are not an end in themselves. If our only focus is on these things, we miss the mark and we lose out on our God given purpose. There is much more to our lives than what this world and other sources may tell us. Seek God’s purpose for your life. Consult the manual He gave us, His word. Therein is truth for real, meaningful and maximum living.

Psalms 139:16 "… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 4:6-8 "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…"

It had been a richly lived life of dedicated service to his Lord. Paul was a classic example of what it means to be totally sold out to a cause, the cause of the Lord. As an old man in chains for the gospel, he knew his time of death was close, and was ready for it. His readiness for departure is contained in the statement; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

We can only be ready to sign out when we have done what we were assigned to do. Everyone is born to accomplish particular tasks in life. There is a race marked out for each one of us. There are battles to fight to keep the faith till the end. Some derail, others get distracted, lose the faith. Amidst extremes of life trials, Paul ran his race faithfully. The Lord Jesus too faithfully ran the race, fought the good fight and kept the faith. We have the same calling.

All life is a preparation for death and the after life. How we live affects how we end. Everything we do prepares us in a good or bad way for what lies ahead of us. Those who will be well received and rejoice for eternity, are those who choose to live their lives for their Creator. Those who prepare badly are investing their lives in the temporary pleasures of sin. How are you personally preparing? I pray you live with awareness that one day we shall depart from this life and face our Creator!

John 17:4 "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do."

Shalom children of God.