Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm139:14-16  "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 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

While pondering over the things God can do beyond our wildest, yet limited human imagination, David acknowledged that God made him fearfully and wonderfully. This means meticulous detail and attention in our creation process. He saw the entire process through, not leaving anything to chance. God is fully responsible for what He made us to be. And it’s beautiful in His eyes.

Comparison is a big tragedy in life. God made each one of us so special that we are like no other. What and who we are, is by His special design. Some look at others as better, or superior. Certain  adverts seem to insinuate that some body shapes, colours and presentations are better than others. All these make many people despise what God made them to be and spend their precious time and other resources trying to be like others!

You are the only you in the world,  made like no other. You have a special place in the universe and God’s designated purpose that no one else can fill. But to despise that and strife to be like others displeases your Maker and makes you fail in your God given assignment on earth.

God made no mistake to make you what you are. Just discover and take your place. Don’t live an acted life by trying to be like others.  Thank God,  like David, that He fearfully and wonderfully made you that way. Celebrate you and walk with your head high. You are special, unique and a blessing to the world – by being YOU! You are God’s best.

1 Peter 1:18-19 "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 24:25 "See, I have told you ahead of time." - NIV

The Bible is full of warnings that God gave to the people then, and to us too, about consequences of certain decisions and actions people take, and of things that would happen to those who reject God and those who follow Him. After narrating what would befall the world in the last days and as signs of the end of the age, Jesus told His disciples, “See, I have told you ahead of time.” Then He told them what to watch out for and how to respond.

Fore warned is fore armed only if warnings are taken seriously. When one is alerted before time, they plan and prepare themselves to face the challenges, watch out for those signs, or escape by taking necessary precautions so that they don’t fall victims. They also excitedly look forward to the promises made to the faithful. God gives these warnings and alerts for similar reasons. He never wants to take people by surprise. He will do nothing until He has first revealed it to His prophets. And the prophets spoke.

Much of what we see in the world today is biblical prophecy in fulfillment. But few pay attention and seek to know how to respond God’s way. What is yet to happen in the present world, and into eternity, both good and bad, has been revealed to us. We can get this information in His word. Unfortunately, many seek answers to world challenges from everywhere else except the Bible. We only get surprised at these occurrences because we are ignorant of the Word. We reap what we sow. Take God’s warnings seriously!

Amos 3:6-7 "When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Peter 3:11-12,14 "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat…So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." - NIV

A day is coming when the world in its present form, corrupted by evil, will be destroyed. This is at the coming of the Lord. There will be a totally new order of things. A new heaven and earth will be ushered in for eternity. Peter, in light of what will happen, then urges on what manner of life we ought to live as we speed the Day of Jesus’ coming.

We ought to live holy and godly lives amidst the corruption in the world. We also ought to “…make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” We have a role to play in the way we choose to live our lives; in holiness, spotless, blameless and being at peace with God. This is the right preparation to be found ready and worthy when He comes.

The Lord has done everything that needed to be done to save us by His grace, and to enable holy living. We have to respond and allow the Holy Spirit to do this work in us. Some rebel and insist on their own ways. But to all who, by willing submission, allow the Holy Spirit to work in them, holy living, without spot or wrinkle and being at peace with God is very possible. I pray you corporate with Him to be ready at Jesus coming.

Revelation 21:1 "Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:14,19 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them… “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them." - NIV

Whatever Jesus taught towards the end of His earthly ministry was in relation to preparedness for His return. He is surely coming back. But He has entrusted us with talents, gifts, and responsibilities that we are to continue to execute until we die or be found serving when He returns.

The key message in the parable of the talents is that there is a trust given to all of us, and we to serve as we wait for the Master to Whom we shall be accountable. We are to keep serving, occupying till He comes. This means faithfulness and dedication without distraction. Some get derailed along the way and turn to other things they were never called to do in this life.

What will keep one on track is a constant awareness that the One Who entrusted us with life, talents and gifts, is coming back. He expects us to be working for Him. Happy is he who will be found faithfully doing what was entrusted to him when the Master returns. A great reward awaits!

Matthew 24:45-47 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:1-4 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps…" - NIV

Jesus had given a lengthy talk on the signs of the end, and the need to be ready. He now relates the state of those waiting for His return to ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. All were virgins pure enough to meet the groom, they were aware of His coming but didn’t know the time, they all slept as they waited. At midnight, an unexpected hour, the bridegroom came and took in only the ready ones.

The Lord’s coming was expected since His ascension. When it seems to have delayed and the mockers doubt it, His pure ones keep waiting. The only sustenance and assurance for those waiting to be found ready to go in with the bridegroom, is the oil keeping the lamp burning. The oil made the difference between the wise and the foolish, those who were ready and went in, and those who were left out!

To the believer, having both the lamp (the word of God) and the oil (the Holy Spirit) as we wait for the Lord’s coming is fundamentally key. The Holy Spirit will keep us on truck, and our lamps burning bright till He comes however long it takes. Some believers will not be found ready just because they lost communion with, not walking instep with, or have grieved away the Holy Spirit from their lives.

We are to be filled with the Spirit always and the lamps of our testimony ever burning. This requires our willing submission and obedience to the Spirit, not living self styled Christian lives our way, puffed up by knowledge in the word and self confidence in our works. Be filled with the Spirit, not the many things of this life.

Luke 12:35-36 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him."

Galatians 5:16 "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Titus 2:11-13 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…"

The grace of God is the sustaining power as we wait for the glorious coming of Jesus. It teaches us to say “No” to anything ungodly that defiles and makes us not ready for His coming. Do not fall short and meddle with the affairs of the corrupted system of the world. It is possible to live self-controlled upright and godly lives in the present age by God’s grace.

The Lord’s second coming is a blessed hope that we can look forward to with great joy and anticipation. Those who rejected Him will greatly mourn as the reality of the reign of the Great King in all His glory hits them. “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30).

This is the joy and encouragement of the believer waiting for that hope. And that hope will not disappoint. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 14:2-4 "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands…" - NIV

This is how king Asa started his reign as king. The list of victories in battle and great reforms he brought to Judah goes on in chapter 15 where he led the nation in covenant renewal with God. He whole heartedly loved, worshipped and served God in his kingship. As a result, God gave him rest from his enemies from all sides.

The turning point came in his 36th year when Baasha, king of Israel came to attack Judah. Instead of seek God as he had always done, he went to the king of Aram. He took gifts of silver and gold from God’s house. God wasn’t happy and sent a prophet to rebuke him. Asa was very angry with the prophet and locked him up. He was inflicted with a severe disease and refused to seek God for help. He had hardened his heart to God and died in the process.

And so a great reformer, wonderful leader ended so badly. How could it be? Why do some great men and women end so miserably, shipwrecked in their faith? Asa turned his heart away from the God he had known and worshiped all his life, to men for help. He backslade in heart. It is important never to forget what sustained you all this long. When enemy deception, trust in your own experience, skill and abilities make you turn away from God, it will surely be a sad ending! It is God’s will that we finish strong, ever trusting in Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride."

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 18:15, 17 "The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”… The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?” - NIV

King Jehoshaphat had visited king Ahab. While there, Ahab asked him to join in battle against Ramoth Gilead. Prophets were brought to prophesy and all of them ‘confirmed’ victory. Unconvinced, Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of God. Micaiah, was brought. Ahab hated him because he never prophesied in his favour. The words above were from Ahab who clearly didnt like the truth Micaiah prophesied about.

King Ahab knew the truth. His heart was full of idolatry, and had diverted from God’s ways. He was committed to his evil ways. He had prophets who knew and spoke what the king wanted to hear. He was angry at Micaiah because he spoke the truth. He locked him up in prison till he would ‘return’ safely, which he never did.

When men are given over to their evil ways, even so called enquiry from God, or the prayers they ask for is to justify their evil. Deep in their hearts, they know the truth, right and wrong. They know, as did Ahab, the will of God. But in their hearts, by using their might, position and influence, they continue their idolatry and evil ways. It is hypocrisy. Their end is clear. You can’t fight against God and succeed.

Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 18:1, 3 "Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage… Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.”

They had feasted together upon Jehoshaphat’s visit to Ahab. Then Ahab asked Jehoshaphat if he could join him in battle to which he readily accepted. Even after advising Ahab to first seek the Lord’s counsel and getting the prophet’s word, Jehoshaphat still went to battle with Ahab. Ahab was on record as a very wicked king.

Ahab shrewdly disguised himself at the war front while Jehoshaphat (naively?) went with his kingly robes. The king of Aram instructed that only the king of Israel be killed and would have mistakenly killed Jehoshaphat in his kingly robes had he not cried out, and had not God purposely rescued him (18:28-32). This is the effect of ungodly alliances. They can fail you, expose you to danger as you become their shields.

Shrewd ungodly men sometimes take advantage of naive well meaning people as they use them for their own schemes. The bible warns against evil alliances of people who are rebellious to God and His ways. You end up suffering for what you know nothing about. Keep your way clear and watch your kind of friendships. Ally yourself with those who hold godly principles and values. You’ll be safe!

Proverbs 4:14-15 "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked  or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 20:13,15,17 "All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord… “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle….”- NIV

Characteristic of king Jehoshaphat was his commitment to seek God. While with Ahab, he urged him to seek God’s counsel before going to battle (18:4). Now faced with a vast enemy army, he mobilised the entire country, young and old, to assemble and seek God. God stired up prophet Jahaziel to give those words of assurance recorded above.

When we choose to involve God in our challenges, battles and endeavours of life, He takes them over. Our challenges become His. The outcome is directed by Him. Our protection and safety is in His hands. Because Jehoshaphat sought after and trusted God, even when his coalition with wicked Ahab could have risked his life, God saved him. Out of fear and acknowledgement of their limitations, he led the nation to seek God’s intervention against the huge enemy force, and God took on the battle, thoroughly defeated their enemies and gave them huge victory.

May we learn to seek and trust God. There is so much we can’t handle by ourselves in life. Rather than worry and trouble ourselves in futility over things we can’t handle, commit it to the all able God with Whom nothing is impossible. Those who genuinely seek God will not be disappointed.

Psalm 25:3 "No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause."

Shalom children of God.