Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Numbers 12:1-3 "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)"

Moses had married an Ethiopian woman. But Aaron and Miriam talked against Moses, starting from criticising his marriage. But soon, it became clear the issue was not the woman he married, but a jealousy and bitterness in their hearts against Moses’ privileged position to hear God. The woman issue just became an opening to reveal actual reason they hated Moses their very brother.

This is a reality in the opposition and fights people have against each other. They may front one reason, but soon go into the real issues they are angry about. Some of these is out of envy for their privileges, hidden pride, and all other evils long kept in the heart. They may be exaggerated and blown out of proportion. When you relate responses to the issues portrayed, they don’t match.

Understanding the actual reasons behind the fights gives a better approach to respond. Moses, the humblest man on earth, left matters in God’s hand, and God quickly showed on his behalf. Sometimes its pointless to fight back because matters may be made worse, but leave matters to God who knows the truth. Jesus did it against those who falsely accused Him of other things, and yet the actual reason was that their fame was threatened. You may appear like a loser, not defending yourself, but the God of truth, justice and righteousness will in the end defend and justify you.

Mark 15:3-5 "The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 2:25-26 "Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--" - NIV

Jesus addressed the seven churches in Asia Minor. To each of them, He pointed out and recognised what they did well, and what they were not doing well and needed to repent. The message in the scriptures above was to the church in Thyatira where some had comprised with teachings encouraging sexual immorality among servants of God. But to those who had not, Jesus encouraged them to hold on to what they already had till the end.

Consistency is an important virtue in remaining true to the faith. As time goes on, some form of ‘new revelations’ come in the name of the Lord using His word, trying to justify some evil and mislead many as it happened in Thyatira. Jesus, while responding to the end time question, warned His disciples against deception (Matt 24:4). He said many would come in His name, doing miracles and trying to sway people to themselves and out of the will of God.

 Jesus promised overcomers, those who would hold on to His will to the end, authority over the nations. There is a raging battle over your soul and the eternal truth of God, to dilute, add to or subtract from it, and to make it ‘fit’ into the times we live in. Paul called these waves and winds of teachings and cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Eph 4:14). They have swayed many people. But we are called to consistently stick to God’s will to the end. This means watching out for, being alert and contending against what wants to compromise God’s will as the serpent did to Eve.

2 Timothy:4.3 -4 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." - NIV

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - NIV

Attitude is the way we see, think, perceive and decide about people, situations and things. This is going on every minute within every person about every situation and people, consciously or not. Eventually, it influences the quality of our lives and destinies because as a man thinks so is he (Proverbs 27:3). Training helps to reorient and channel attitudes in a particular way. That’s what Paul is saying in our opening scripture.

Before one is in Christ, there are customs and norms that shape attitudes in their way of life as they were taught. When we come to God’s kingdom, our pattern of thinking changes to be like God in righteousness and holiness. Everything is new, the old nature and its patterns have gone. Henceforth, our attitude is to be like that of Jesus Himself (Phil 2:5-9). This transformation and renewal process is done by the Holy Spirit, resident in the believer.

Whatever we are, how we see, hear, think, decide, relate and respond to people, situations and things is a reflection of our attitudes. Victory or defeat, love or hate, success or failure are in attitudes. Let your life be so immersed in God and His word, that whatever attitude follows and manifests out of you is godly. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…“

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer 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

Hebrews 13:15-16 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." - NIV

The writer compares the sacrificial system of the old testament which involved animal sacrifices, and the new covenant involving the Lamb of God, Jesus. Those sacrifices were to be offered in a particular way to be acceptable to God as part of covenant relationship and worship. We no longer offer animal sacrifices. Jesus did that once and for all. By His shed blood and the sacrifice of Himself, He sealed the covenant.

Through faith in Jesus, we are now to continually and openly offer sacrifice of praise from our lips. Additionally, we are to do good and share our possessions with others in need. By this, we extend the compassionate heart of God to His people. Done with sincere hearts and to the glory of God, such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The psalmist said God’s praise would continually be in his mouth. In all situations at all times, let our hearts and mouths be full of sincere praises to God Almighty. Let’s share with those in need. This is our worship. It pleases God.

Psalm 34:1 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."

1 John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo.

Luke 10:22-23 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." - NIV

As Jesus celebrated the successful mission of the seventy two He sent out, He stated that knowledge of God only comes through revelation. By revelation, we see things differently and better, from God’s perspective. What had been revealed to the disciples had not been seen even by the prophets and kings before, much as they longed to see the coming of the Messiah. But even with the Messiah around, many still couldn’t see! They were blind.

Some of the things we get to understand as revealed are not obvious to those not in Christ. They are revealed by the Holy Spirit to those who have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. They are spiritual things, discerned by the spiritually alive and sensitive. How beautiful it is to see things from God’s view point. It makes the whole world of difference and gives much clarity to life. I pray you never get contended until you get there!

Some are still blind in their minds by the god of this world, the devil. They have eyes but dont see what God is doing, and the signs of the times. Some of those in Christ are still blind to the deeper things God is doing, one reason for their superficial relationship with God. To those who have eyes that see, blessed are you! To those who lack spiritual sight, you can ask God, like blind Bartimaues cried to Jesus to see, and as Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have the eyes of their hearts opened. There is a vast world of great spiritual riches and treasures only known to those who can see!

Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

Ephesians 1:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Samuel 7:28 "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." - NIV

David was responding to God’s favorable word through prophet Nathan to him, his family and generations to come. It followed his concern and desire to build a temple for God. In that word, God made several promises to David. In response, with deep gratitude, David acknowledged God as Sovereign, His words to be trustworthy and His promises reliable. He was then sure that whatever God had spoken to him would come true.

We live in a fallen world where lying is commonplace, from individuals, groups to nations. Many don’t tell the truth, or don’t commit themselves to their own promises. They may say one thing and yet do another, or take their commitments lightly. This has caused many problems in the world. People and even nations hardly trust each other, each suspicious of another. Because of this, some tend to think and believe God acts similarly like men, by not being true to His words sometimes. And so they take God’s word lightly or don’t trust it at all.

Friends, God is never a liar. We have the blessed assurance that He is faithful to every word and promise He made or makes. As long as He uttered it, so shall it be in it’s time. His word is full of promises, exhortations and commitments which speak to our various needs and situations of life and we can claim for ourselves. Although they were not made directly to us, it’s principles apply to us. You can stand on His promises that never fail. Hallelujah!

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

Isaiah 55:11 "So also will be the word that I speak —     it will not fail to do what I plan for it;     it will do everything I send it to do."

Shalom

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 27:13 "[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." KJV

Life’s journey is not straight. It can be tough. One time you are at the mountain top and everything is alright. Another time you are at the valley and things seem to be falling apart. One time there are friends all around. And in another no one seems to care. You seem to be all alone. What keeps one going is hope that things will be better.

God operates in seasons and times. There is day time and night time. That’s how things are. David acknowledged that if he had not believed, in hope, for better times ahead, he would have given up on living. This happens to us many times when the storms of life beat, situations are so tough and unforgiving, and thoughts of quiting or even dying cross one’s mind.  

It’s so encouraging that amidst all the ups and downs and uncertainities of life, God, in Whom we trust and hope, doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). He is God in the good and bad times. He remains a good God and faithful in the mountain top and in the dark valleys. Our faith and hope should rest in Him. Men may fail. Our businesses, investments, treasures and all the other things we rely on can fail. But God doesn’t.

Hope in God doesn’t disappoint. It will be well at the end. Tomorrow will be better, however bad today is. Do not quit your endeavors. Hold on to faith in an unchanging, faithful God. There is light at the end of dark tunnel, even into eternity.

Psalm 30:5 "For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning."

Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 4:9, 27 "The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)… Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

Jesus picked a conversation with a Samaritan woman as He preached to her. But a deeply seated attitude between the two peoples, Jews and Samaritans pops up. They had nothing to do with other. The woman brought it out in no uncertain terms. Another cultural hitch comes in as observed by the surprised disciples: Jesus is talking with a woman, moreover a Samaritan? But Jesus intended to break a culture and tradition that had held many captive for long.

We all belong to families, societies and communities which have certain traditions and beliefs about other people from certain families, clans, tribes or races. What we are told biases our minds against them. These affects our attitudes and relationships with them. Some are carried forward to matters of the gospel. Jesus in the quoted scenario deliberately broke such man made traditions that created barriers between people.

In Christ, such attitudes based on ethnicity, cultures, gender and others don’t hold. We are one under our Creator. These differences are fueled by the enemy so as to propagate divisions in which he thrives to fight God’s purposes for humanity. Let our cultural and traditional view of others be influenced by what God’s word teaches. He is God of diversity. All people are His.

Galatians 3:26-28 "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Mark 7:8-9 "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 12:15-16 "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son." - NIV

In emphasising living at peace with all men and being holy, the author cautioned the Hebrew brethren against falling short of God’s grace. Among the things that could lead to this are bitterness, sexual immorality and godless living that despises salvation and the things of God (Heb 2:1-4).

Bitterness is unresolved deep anger and unforgiveness. It opens up a person to many other foul spirits leading to more trouble and spiritual defilement. Likewise, whoever is into sexual immorality becomes susceptible many foul spirits. None of those practicing them is at peace with God until they purpose to allow God set them free.

God’s grace works by faith in Christ (Eph 2:5,8) and His finished work on the cross. It teaches us to say no to anything ungodly as we submit to the Lordship of Jesus in holy living. When one is driven by bitterness, sexual immorality and godless living, the place of Christ as Master and Lord is diminished. This still calls for our choices, to submit our will and bodies to serve God or our own pleasures.

Titus 2:11-13 "For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of the whole human race. That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ will appear."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 8:23-25 "He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." - NIV

This is an interesting story. Jesus healed the blind man. When He asked him what he saw, he said he saw people like trees walking. On a second touch of his eyes, he was fully restored and saw everything clearly.

Most people are like that today. The eyes of their hearts have been opened partially. They see and perceive things partially. And when you see people like things, you value them less. This could be one reason why even those in Christ still treat others in questionable ways without the love of God. They need a second touch in their spiritual sight, so as to see people as God sees them.

When we see as God sees, we interpret and understand as God does. Clarity of sight makes the whole difference in how we live our lives and relate with others. It manifests in a form of religion, but denying the transforming power of God. It leads to deception. If you still hate, segregate, despise and ill treat others and yet claim to be in the Lord, you need a second touch. Ask God to help you see clearly. Don’t settle for partial sight. It’s dangerous and more harmful.

1 John 1:6-7 "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Ephesians 1:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…"

Shalom children of God.