Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 8:1-4 "Does not wisdom call out?  Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind." - NIV

Wisdom is ability to use knowledge in a proper and reasonable manner, thus arriving at good sense of judgement and decisions. Knowledge is information or a mental understanding or awareness of something. It is not enough to just have knowledge without rightly applying it to solve problems and make life better.

The wise man Solomon personifies wisdom, who is calling out to all people. Wisdom is needed where people meet, interact, solve problems and make decisions. Since life is about knowing how to rightly approach situations, make decisions and manage human relationships (some of which are very complicated), it means wisdom is key. All that happens in this world is a result of knowledge and wisdom, or lack of it.

Kings, leaders and lay people, young and old alike, need wisdom. Effective leadership at any level combines wisdom, power and authority. Knowledge without godly wisdom is corrupted and destructive. The world reels in pain and shame at the hands of fools who reject wisdom! Hear the man who had tasted and known the necessity and sweetness of wisdom:

"Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight." (Proverbs 4:5-7)

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary  and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - NIV

Man on his own is limited in wisdom, knowledge and strength. Youth is the epitome of human strength. At that stage, so much can be accomplished. But God knows that such strength too, is limited. People who entirely rely on their abilities eventually become weary, tired, stumble and fall, including the youth and the strongest of men. At the peak of their strength, humans can be deceived to think they can do anything, become arrogant and rebellious.

There is so much we go through in this life that drains our strength. As a result, so many are exhausted, broken down, burnt out and even depressed. God calls us to trust Him. He alone can renew our strength when we have come to the end of our abilities. There is a limit to human strength however much people try. Soon, reality catches up.

But with God, we can go on and on, running and not growing weary, walking and not fainting, till we accomplish our goals and come to the end of life’s journey. Are you weary and tired? Never give up. Come to Him. The promise of renewal of strength is to those who acknowledge their limits, and deliberately trust and look up to Him. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 "Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know." - NIV

Knowledge is information, understanding or a skill one acquires through education or experience. As we learn ,we acquire knowledge. This knowledge has an effect in the lives and behaviours of its possessor. Paul compares the behavior of those possessed with knowledge and those driven by love. He notes that knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.

Knowledge is certainly good and very important in guiding life decisions. We need to invest in knowledge acquisition. But it becomes deceptive when those who have it use it to manipulate, trick, despise or abuse others less knowledgeable than themselves. It is destructive when it makes people see themselves as more important than others, become full of themselves, hold others hostage and think everything should revolve around them. That’s pride and arrogance.

We can never know everything in the world. We only know in part, even if you are a genius. This should keep us humble and to always be willing to purposefully learn from others. There is no end to learning. If driven by genuine love for others, we will be humble enough to listen respectfully to them, even if they make little sense. Love and right use of knowledge builds others up.

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 12:15, 19-20 "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” … And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’" - NIV

A rich parable it was that Jesus gave. This followed a warning against all kinds of greed for material possessions. The rich man’s yield was good. To store his goods, he would break the small stores and build bigger ones. Then he would tell his soul to relax, make merry and enjoy. He trusted his wealth to solve all his problems. But God called him a fool for trusting his wealth. Jesus concluded that our lives are not defined by material wealth, but by a rich relationship with God.

Wealth is good, but can be deceptive. It creates false security, promises a good comfortable life and anything else one could ever need. With this, a person will think they don’t even need God. Those who are under its control find it hard to enter God’s kingdom. There are things wealth cannot do except God Who remains the only One who can fulfill man’s greatest need for a Savior.

We need wealth for several good reasons. But we are cautioned not to put our trust in it. It has potential to influence people away from trusting their Creator. But rightly acquired and used, wealth is a great blessing in every way. Be alert against all forms of greed, deception of riches and ungodly means of wealth acquisition. Commit to make wealth and enjoy it in ways that honor God.

Matthew 13:22 "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."

Psalm 62:10 "Do not trust in extortion  or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction,  a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace,  but with humility comes wisdom." - NIV

Throughout the Bible, it is clear God hates pride. Pride originated from the devil. Solomon severally compared the downside of pride with the upside of humility. He observes that the sure way to a fall in any endeavour, destruction and disgrace in life, is through pride.

Do you see people pretending to be above everyone, arrogant because of their position and possessions? Are they despising and under looking others, full of themselves thinking they know it all as they praise and exalt themselves? They are surely on their way to disgrace and destruction.

Pride is a very deceptive weapon of the devil. It promises or assumes greatness. It places you up without a firm foundation beneath. It makes one feel independent of God or others. That is a lie. That’s why God hates pride, because it competes for His position. It is a question of time, and pride will surely disappoint and bring you down. Choose the way of humility as you honour God, love and respect others. Therein is glory.

DJames 4:6-7 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 17:15-19 "One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” - NIV

They were ten lepers. They all cried out to Jesus to heal them as He passed between Samaria and Galilee. As they went to the priests to show themselves, they were all healed. The foreigner, a Samaritan who felt he didn’t deserve the healing from a Jewish Messiah, was so grateful. He returned to give thanks. Those who probably felt it was their ‘right’ to be healed by their fellow Jewish teacher simply continued their way.

When people feel entitled to certain things, they cease to be humble, and grateful. They will place demands, fight and arrogantly push their way. This was probably the attitude of the nine healed lepers. Their pride made them think returning thanks was stooping too low. Moses reminded the Israelites that the privileges they would enjoy in Canaan land was not that they were more righteous or favoured than the nations they displaced. Rather, it was entirely by God’s grace.

Nothing we could ever do makes us deserve God’s blessings because we were all sinners. Whatever He does for us is out of His grace and not an entitlement. We should ever be grateful. Even with privileged positions and possessions, let’s cease from arrogance and learn to appreciate God and those at our service. It’s all by God’s mercy and grace!

Deuteronomy 9:6-7 "Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord."

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, from a stable or broken family, single or double parenting. From birth, through the forzmative 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. For holistic development, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual needs which eventually shape children’s character, have to be met too.

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.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction. 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

Paul, an old man and prisoner for the gospel, is soon dying. These words are among his last to his son Timothy. He charged him to preach the WORD in all seasons, using it to correct, rebuke and encourage. He prophetically sees a time in which men will not endure sound doctrine of the word, but will gather for themselves teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear and not what they need to hear. Such is the way out of the truth into error. All such actions are driven by their own desires, no longer seeking the will of God even though they use His name.

How true this is in our day! To many professing God’s name, the issue is no longer about what the truth of God’s word is, but what they can get out of it to suit their desires. The gathering of teachers follows what they want to hear. And the teachers also know what their listeners want to hear, and will give it, to their gain. This has led to gross misappropriation of God’s word to portray what it was never meant to mean. Unfortunately, Scripture is used to justify anything ill intentioned false gospel ministers want to give their eager listeners!

The purpose of sound doctrine is to keep us on track in God, transforming us into Christ’s image. It will rebuke and correct, directing us to the narrow, sometimes long path of God’s will. This will antagonize our pleasure seeking and easy life of the flesh. And Satan can’t fail to give those shortcuts to easy life, but at a cost to ones soul! It is incumbent upon each one who truly wants to live God’s way, to sieve what they hear, rightly preach and live by the word, sharp as it can be. Therein is our safety in these perilous times.

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 1:5 “… and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…” – NIV

John introduces the message he got, and from Whom he got the revelation. He describes who Jesus is so as to give credibility and weight to His message. He also describes what Jesus has done to us, His love and freeing us from our sins by His blood. He made us into a kingdom of kings and priests to serve God. These are wonderful privileges that only God can give man by His grace!

Sin is the central reason behind all man’s problems, with Satan being the chief architect. Whatever men do to solve human problems without addressing sin yields little result. God gave us the solution to sin; the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for the forgiveness and cleansing of all sins. The remedy to sin is acknowledgment, confession and repentance. Then Jesus blood washes and frees the sinner from it.

Many attempts are made to deal with sin, such as doing good, justifying it, covering it up, running away, legalising it, etc. But only Jesus blood truly deals with sin. Come in humility and repentance before God, who is ever willing to help you, however entangled and low you have sunk in sin. Sin enslaves, but Jesus sets free indeed!

1 John 1:7 “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.”

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 ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the LORD while you can find him.  Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” – NLT

Many people tend to trivialize, postpone, ignore or reject certain actions and decisions with a feeling that there is still time. In the end, many opportunities are lost, remorseful regrets experienced later in life, and destinies affected, some of them eternally! This is true in every aspect of life, our relationship with God inclusive. Many along the way look back with much regret at lost chances. Worse still, will be the eternal regret for those who are now postponing, or ignoring their commitment to God!

God still pleads with us to seek Him while He can be found, to call on Him while He is near. This call will not be so forever. A time comes when it will not be possible to call or seek and find Him any more! Even those in God who keep disobeying or postponing what God tells them to do in His service, should rethink their ways. Hear what David said in Psalm 32:6 “… Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement.” NLT

Apostle Paul wrote about the same; “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ÑLT)

And Jesus, about the irresponsible unprepared virgins at His coming, had this to say; “… Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” (Matthew 25:10)

So, while there is still time and opportunity to give your life to Jesus, be reconciled, and start a relationship with God, and to serve Him, make use of it NOW. One day, it will not be there. It will be too late!

Shalom children of God.