Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 3:16-17″All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – NIV

To correct is to make right or set in order what has gone wrong. It’s about showing right as differentiated from wrong. We are all prone to error one way or another, and therefore all of us need to be corrected. Correction has a basis, a standard of what is generally considered right. Since God’s word is flawless, being the truth from God Who does not lie, it forms the basis of any meaningful correction for right living. Good national laws are derived from principles of Scripture whether indicated so it not.

Satan is a liar, and operates on deception. Even the truth of Scripture he may bring out is distorted to suit his interests of diverting people from God as he wanted to do to Jesus. This is the root and basis of all errors, some of which come in God’s name! It is therefore of paramount importance that we get the truth of God’s word richly dwelling in us so as to escape the lies and deception of Satan, the god of this wicked world. The word, richly dwelling in us, keeps correcting the mistakes we make and lies we encounter daily in life as it shows us the right way.

Whoever rejects correction of Scripture and insists on their own way rejects God. The wise man said fools are always right in their own eyes! (Prov 12:15). God’s aim of correction is to bring us back and keep us on the right truck and so avoid falling into error and eventual destruction if we harden our hearts. As you read or listen to the word of God rightly interpreted and applied, allow it in humility, to correct your ways.

Hebrews 12:5-6 “Have you forgotten the encouraging words which God speaks to you as his sons and daughters? “My child, pay attention when the Lord corrects you,   and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you. Because the Lord corrects everyone he loves,     and punishes everyone he accepts as his child.””

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 3:16-17″All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – NIV

In addition to teaching, the Scriptures rebuke our wrong ways; thoughts, words and actions. It expresses the mind of God who disapproves of certain things we do which are not right. Rebukes are not nice. They undress and ashame us, come out sharply and forthrightly in no uncertain terms. It offends some people, but delights those who are willing to learn and transform.

As God’s word comes forth sharply through personal study or as preached by others, pay attention to the rebukes as well. Many only expect the nice promises, exciting declarations of blessings, but don’t enjoy the tough rebukes. If we are to be what God wants us to be, painfully accept and appreciate when God’s word rebukes you. It is for your good.

One manifestation of avoiding rebukes is selective reading of Scripture, only focusing on what is nice and exciting and deliberately avoiding the hard stuff or quickly diverting it to others. That’s not helpful. Rebukes are part of healthy growth. You will do well to graciously accept them because they come in love and meant for your good.

Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 3:16-17″All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – NIV

Paul was teaching about characteristics of people in the end times. He asked Timothy to trust the teachings he got from him, knowing what kind of person he was. One of Timothy’s advantage was that he had been introduced to the Scriptures early in his life, making him wise towards salvation. It is a lesson for parents and adults to introduce children early to the word of God.

All Scripture was given by divine inspiration for the purpose of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. To teach is to instruct, inform, guide and impart knowledge. How that knowledge is used thereafter depends on the student. The Scriptures teach us about life, how to and how not to live it. There is nothing in life that the scriptures do not give guiding principles on how to approach, because God is concerned about all aspects of life. As you hear, read, study and meditate on it, relate the word to daily living.

We all need to be taught, because we don’t know everything in this life. Because God is the Author and Giver of life, He has a way He wants us to live it for our satisfaction and to His glory. The word of God will teach us His ways so that we please Him in every way. When we hear it, let’s be willing to be taught and learn, and above all to apply what we learn to our lives. The Holy Spirit is present to help us live according to God’s instructions.

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

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.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – NIV

The Bible severally teaches that those who want to follow Christ come out of the world, desist from the worldly ways and live for God. John in the above text speaks against loving the world and all in it. What then is the ‘world’ we are warned against, and to flee from.

The world is a system, a way of doing things, governed by certain principles and beliefs which are usually contrary to God’s will and principles. This is different from the world as creation which we are to love and protect. Characteristic of the world system we are not to love is the lusts of the body, lust of the eyes and pride of life. These are sensual feelings which drive people to plan and do evil, get whatever their eyes admire without self control and boast about what they have achieved while despising others. Such a worldly system is driven by the devil. That’s not how God the Father and His kingdom works.

Anyone who loves and enjoys such a wicked worldly system clearly doesn’t have God’s love which hates evil. The temporary worldly pleasures will pass away with those who love it. But doing God’s will by resisting the world, has assurance that one will live forever in peace. The devil is behind the worldly evil system. He encourages indulgence without limit in the name of freedom, and yet enslaving people and driving them away from God. Choose Christ, resist the devil and the world and live for God’s will.

John 7:7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”
John 12:31 “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 John 1:1-4 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. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” – NIV

We all want to be sure that what we believe or proclaim for others to believe is truth we are convinced about. John starts his letter by affirming that the gospel message about Jesus they are preaching is not hear say. They saw Jesus, talked with Him, sat with and touched Him. They were therefore first hand witnesses that truly Jesus is real, and is the light, Who gives eternal life. On the basis of this credible witness, we too can believe.

This letter was written to counter many false teachings that sought to deny the deity of Jesus and His physical appearance. Over the years, this deception would get worse and heretics would use it to water down the authenticity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as a myth. But the gospel is not a myth, but real.

To date we proclaim the same gospel that Jesus is the light, the Word of life, and Savior. Because He lives, He still saves, gives eternal life to those who believe in Him. Because He lives, each of us can have first hand experience with Him today through forgiveness of sin, healing touch and saving experience. The gospel we proclaim is authentic, because Jesus is still alive.

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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Psalm 3:1-6 “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” – NIV

David wrote this Psalm when he fled from his son Absalom who forcefully wanted to overthrow him. He conspired with many people and set up a huge army to fight his father David. His subjects, now turned enemies pursued him believing that God would not protect David. But David acknowledges that God is his shield, glory and the lifter of his head from shame and defeat. He was sure God would deliver him when he calls on him in prayer. And God did.

That was the reason he could lie down and sleep and wake up safe – because he was sure beyond doubt that God was sustaining him. He had no fear even if tens of thousands of his enemies surrounded him. Such is the confidence we can have amidst so many forces of the evil one attacking us from every side. Naturally, panic and fear, hopelessness and despair follow such scenarios. But with Christ in us, we can have peaceful rest even amidst so much turmoil, uncertainty and troubles of this world.

Jesus is our peace in the midst of the storms that surround us. It’s only in Him that we are safe and secure, peacefully resting in His finished work and unfailing promises. Our victory is from Him who conquered the devil and his mercinations. Every attempt of the enemy will be destroyed by the God Who holds us safe and securely in His mighty arms. In Him is our victory and sustenance always. Trust in Him.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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Philippians 1:15-18 “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”

Paul was in prison because of the gospel of Christ. This stired up some more preachers, some out of good will to genuinely propagate the gospel. Others who hated Paul used it as an opportunity to promote their selfish ambitions and to add more sorrow to him in prison. To both approaches, Paul was grateful that Christ was preached all the same.

The gospel is always good news about Jesus saving the lost and giving man a living hope in God. The insincere and selfish preacher uses the gospel and the pulpit to settle personal scores, promote selfish ambitions, fight others as it happened in Paul’s day. This is unfortunate and yet real. So much of what goes as preaching the gospel has behind it competition with others, rebellion and breakaways, fighting for fame and supremacy or making names and building territories. These are wrong attitudes.

The key to the right attitude to preaching Christ is love. Whatever is outside a genuine concern to see people turn to God and experience His goodness is a wrong attitude. Paul said God’s love compels him to preach. He taught that without love, all our efforts and activities are worthless. May God help us make love the only reason to minister to others whatever the circumstances.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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John 17:4-5 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” – NIV

Jesus is making His last prayer before departure from earth. He now looks back at His work and reports to the Father Who sent Him that the work was done. He narrates how He did it, and what He desired the disciples to do to carry on the work He left them with. He extends that prayer beyond the disciples at that time to His follows for all generations to come to date.

Jesus prayed to be glorified. Glorification only and rightly comes after the assignment is well done. No winner or victor is crowned before running and winning the race, or before the battle is won. And the winners should have run the race according to the rules. For every overcomer and faithful servant who executes the tasks assigned by their Master, there awaits a crowning ceremony, a glorification from God Almighty that cannot be equalled with the grandest worldly ceremony!

Such is the joy of living out your purpose. It brings out a satisfaction that no other achievement can bring in a person’s life. One day, all our lives will come to an end in this earthly journey. Then we shall transition into the other side of eternity. And without doubt, we shall look back at what we lived for and what we achieved. I pray you will say like Jesus, that you fulfilled and finished the work God your Creator gave you to do in the world. Live for God! Paul did so and died a satisfied man!

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

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Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.” – NIV

Every human being is born into a specific generation by God’s design and purpose. No one is an accident in this world. You are in this generation for a specific God ordained purpose. David, the great king in Israel, recognised the will of God and served it in his generation. After completing it well, he died a satisfied man.

It’s fundamental, dear friends, that we ask ourselves, and God our creator, what we are here for. And when we know it, to serve with our whole being. It’s all that matters.
Sadly, many have no idea what they live for in this world. Many live by the forces in their environment, without a clear unmistakable personal assignment from their creator God.

The realisation and pursuit of our divine purpose will guarantee a fully satisfying end to this brief life, and will continue into a blissful eternity. Many will look back at the end of this life at the lost opportunities to do what they were actually created to do, and what really matters. But unfortunately too late! They were probably ignorant of it, or were taken by the popular opinion, pleasure, or blatant disobedience to God’s will for them. I pray you will not be one of them. Seek His will for you. What your Creator made you for is all that matters at the end.

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 nations.”

Shalom children of God.