Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 19:7 "All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” - NIV

Jesus was welcomed by Zachaeus, a tax collector, into his home for a meal. The people murmured that He had gone to be the guest of a sinner, as they considered the tax collectors to be sinners. He also visited one of the Pharisees’ homes for dinner, and yet these were people who opposed Him. While there, a woman they saw as a sinner for her lifestyle, came and poured expensive oil on Him while weeping. They complained that He shouldn’t have allowed such sinful woman to touch Him.

A blind beggar cried for His help, and He stopped to attend to him. Children were brought for Him to bless them. Lepers and outcasts cried out for help, and He healed them. That is the love of Christ without partiality. He loved, and still loves all. The statesman, the outcast and rejects of society are all His precious people.

Can we love less if the Lord we serve didn’t? Our world has created categories of people into those who are loveable and not, those in our class and those below or higher. If we His disciples are truly following in His footsteps, our hearts should be driven by His kind of love for all people. One of the basis of judgment in the last day is on how we treated the ‘least of these'(Matt 25:31-46). May God help us not to ignore those He loves and are dear to His heart based on humanly created boundaries and categorisation!

1 Timothy 5:21 "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Philippians 3:10-11 "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."

Jesus categorically told His disciples that they would face tribulation in this world(John 16:33). This emanates from the spiritual forces between the kingdom of God and the devil’s resistance to the gospel and attempt to sway people away from God. As one goes through these battles, they face human agents of the devil. Paul didn’t look at sufferings for Christ as something to be shunned or merely endured, but rejoiced in them.

If one is suffering for standing for truth, righteousness and justice, and for seeking to glorify God through the gospel, they can count it as sharing in the sufferings of Christ. That’s what Paul calls fellowship with Christ through suffering. To this we have been called. But Peter says no one should suffer for doing wrong and claim to suffer for God.

This kind of fellowship carries along the promise of participating in His resurrection, partaking of God’s kingdom and receiving the crown of life(Rev 2:10). It is the way to maturity in the faith, to glory and exceeding joy with God forever. He gives us grace to go through it all with Him as did the early church rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord. Hear Jesus’ words;

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."(Matthew 5:10-12)

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:21 ‘"Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’" - GNB

Jesus gave a parable of the stewards who were entrusted by their master with talents. To the faithful ones, the master was happy and rewarded them with more, as they shared in his glory at the end. This parable teaches us about the outcome of faithfully following the Lord in whatever He entrusted us with, to the end.

The journey of faith as we follow God has many mountains and valleys, smooth and tough times, some of which tempt us to give up. But if we remain true and faithful to God, enduring the challenges, serving His purposes to the end, the blessed assurance is that we shall share in His eternal glory as well. The master recieved the faithful servants into His joy. He will wipe away our tears and give us the crown of life.

Let this encourage us to remain faithful. Let our eyes be fixed on Jesus who equally endured so much ridicule but was motivated to continue by the joy that lay ahead. There is so much joy that awaits the faithful servant walking in the footsteps of the Master. Cheer up and hang in there. It will be glorious! Those who suffer for Him will also share in His glory. Paul looked forward to it, and should we.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 103:1 "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

My soul, my spirit, my very life, it’s your duty to praise the Lord your Maker. His holy name deserves our praise. True praise arises from within, from a thankful heart, manifesting on the outside.

Psalm 103:2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

As my soul praises the Lord, it will remember and not forget what He has done. Forgetfulness lessens praise and increases complaints and disgrutlement. Praise keeps the great things Godhas done in constant view and focus.

Psalm 103:3 who forgives all your sins  and heals all your diseases,

The Lord forgives all our sins and frees us from guilt and condemnation before Him. He has committed to heal all our diseases. For these promises, we can lay claim as our portion from Him.

Psalm 103:4 who redeems your life from the pit  and crowns you with love and compassion,

Without God, we are dead in sin. But God redeems us to Himself from death to life. This He does out of His deep love and compassion. I am loved and redeemed of the Lord. His I am! What a joy to know this!

Psalm 103:5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I have desires and longings. Some may not glorify His name. God is committed to fulfill my desires, but only with good things. When my desires are satisfied with good, my health is renewed like the eagle’s.

For these and many others, praise the Lord o my soul! He has done, and will continue to do great things. He deserves all the praise.

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Daniel 2:26-28 "The king asked Daniel  (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?" Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…" - NIV

The powerful king Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream and he was restless. He asked his wise men to tell the dream and interpret it for him. They all failed. In desperation, he wanted to execute them all, being the absolute monarch he was. Then word came to him that there was one of the Hebrew men who had ability to interpret dreams and unveil mysteries. Thus was Daniel sent for and he appeared before the king.

Perfect time to busk in the limelight and take pride for his exceptional gifting and recognition by the king? Not Daniel! In reply to the king’s question, he quickly made a disclaimer that no man (including himself) could interpret the mystery and referred him to a God in heaven who could do it. In essence, he was telling the king that except for this God working through him, he was as helpless as any other. And therefore for whatever Daniel would do, all glory goes back to God.

How often gospel ministers fall into this trap! When God does His works through us, glorious as they may be, let’s always be  quick to give back the glory to Whom it belongs. Any delays to enjoy that glory may soon graduate to expectation, and soon demand for praise of men. And before you know it, you have created focus on yourself, not the God using you, and soon you create a personality cult of yourself and even fight for it. Therein is your downfall! Remember how king Herod was struck and died instantly for not being quick to return glory to God(Acts 12:23). 

We are but vessels in God’s hand that He uses to do His works. People may appreciate the ministry, some may almost worship you, but it’s upto us to direct them to God and return all the glory to the One we serve and deserves it. Watch out for subtle pride in successful ministry! Again learn from Joseph.

WGenesis 41:15-16 "Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - NIV

Needs of life are real. No food or hope of the next meal, a failing health condition of a loved one, pending bills, no proper shelter, threat to our safety and security, are needs that concern anyone. Neither is God blind to these things. He is a practical God and knows we have those needs. His word is full of promises for normal day to day practical concerns of life. He expects us to ask Him for them.

God knows and He cares that we have these needs met. Paul adviced the Philipians that instead of being anxious about these needs, bring them as requests to God in prayer and petition with a thankful heart. In response, God will first give His peace to settle our hearts and minds from the anxiety caused by the needs. A state of anxiety, if not well managed, can lead to inappropriate reactions and worse state of life, affecting our relationship with God and others.

Apart from peacefully settling our minds, God promises to meet all our needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19). He does this in various ways; by blessing the diligent work of our hands, giving ideas, providing links to right people, and sometimes (for immediate urgent needs) through supernatural means. God is a strategic planner. For sustainability in the long run, He inspires long term plans and ideas as we trust Him. But we should be ready to work.

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

It had been a long sermon on the mountain. Having heard all He told the crowd, Jesus nailed it with what would create the difference between the wise and foolish, those who will stand and those who wouldn’t. The word of God comes to all who hear it. But what the hearers do with His word, determines the outcome and state of their lives in the storm. The house is our faith, the rock or sand represents the foundations of our faith.

Jesus here taught that everyone has faith in someone or something, and the challenges of life come to all, those in Him and not in Him. Jesus is the Rock. Anyone who puts his trust in Him lays the foundation of his faith in the rock. The challenges will never make him fall. Anything and anyone else we trust in apart from Jesus Christ is a foundation of sand which can’t stand the trials that come.

However beautiful the external appearance of your house, the true test of the strength of the foundation is in the time of the storm. The storms will surely come. The shaking is coming. Will yours stand? Many claim to trust God. But challenges reveal a different story. Make the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, the foundation of your faith in word and deed. You will not be disappointed.

Psalm 125:1 "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 5:4 "…Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God." - GNB

Paul was giving instruction on the conduct and manner of life befitting the Christian as they are transformed into Christ likeness. Among these is discouragement from use of a language that doesn’t reflect the nature of God, and therefore shouldn’t characterize His children. Obscenity, profanity, cursing, or vulgar language are not for the believer in Christ.

Language is one key sign of the character of a person. It brings out who they really are, and what manner of spirit is in them. It is a reflection of the spiritual kingdom one belongs to, of God or the devil. When God transforms a person, their behaviour and language as well changes. Even under provocation, the Holy Spirit gives self control to avoid ungodly speech.

Instead, the believer’s speech is to be graceful, thankful and seasoned with salt. It brings love, peace, hope and life to its hearers. Listen to a person’s speech, and you can tell what is in them, and who controls them. May you be so full of good inside that it overflows through your mouth. Then you become a blessing to others.

Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 26:24-26 "A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,  but in his heart he habours deceit. Though his speech is charming,  do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception,  but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly." - NIV

There is a lot of deception in this world. People speak one thing, so sweet, charming, and convincing, and yet they mean a different thing in their hearts. They flatter each other to get what they want. Nations, communities, organizations, groups, friends, families, individuals –  decieve and betray each other. This is one reason people never do what they commit themselves to, because they really didn’t mean what they said.

God who sees the actual intentions and motives in the hearts of men, knows all such hypocrisy concealed in men’s hearts.
He is a God of justice and righteousness. He tells us to make our yes, to truly be yes, and no to be no(Matt 5:37). That is what the bible calls walking in the light as He is in the light. Claiming to walk in the truth, and yet harbour malice, anger, unforgiveness or other forms of evil in the heart against others, is to live a lie. 

What we conceal  eventually comes out. Soon or later, and truth will be seen. May God help us to live honest lives, with no dark or grey hidden areas concealing sin against others. May what we say rhyme with what is in our hearts. Let our yes be yes, and no be no. In that way, we live by the truth and have nothing to worry about in the day of reckoning when things are laid bare including motives behind what we said or did.

"If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (1 John 1:6)

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - KJV

Everyone is a product of parenting, whether from a stable or broken family, single or double parenting. From birth, through the formative stages of child development upto one’s adulthood, alot is invested into a person. Whatever each one of us is; the way we behave, the values we hold, the attitudes we possess, are a reflection of parenting and family background. Train a child to be whatever he ahould be. And that’s what they will be. If you don’t, some how someone somewhere will. And thats what they will be. This places immense undelegetable responsibility to parents for which they will account to God.

Training is teaching and modeling. A child’s mind is open from birth. It only takes in what the environment around feeds them with, the most important of which is family. That’s what informs their world view and eventually shapes their character, the way they see and do things. Children need more than material things like food, clothing, shelter, toys, education etc. For holistic development, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual needs which eventually shape children’s character, have to be met too.

It’s sad that the importance attached to parenting is reducing, with the family institution under immense demonic attack. Many take it lightly, absent themselves, leave children to the media and whosoever, but blame them when they act weird. If you really care to secure the future of your children, you must, of necessity, spend quality time instilling and demonstrating right/godly values to them. You will one day be happy you did when the fruit of responsible godly citizens manifests.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Shalom children of God.