Daily Devotionals

No Longer for Ourselves

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Corinthians 5.15 “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.” – NIV

We were created by God to serve His purposes on earth. When sin came into the human race, this original intention and purpose of God for our existence was distorted. The desires, plans and actions of men’s hearts were corrupted and inclined to evil most of the time, and not to their Creator. Paul laboured to explain how God is in the business of reconciling humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ. To do this, Jesus had to die on our behalf so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for God.

In His death, Jesus died for all, whether they believe in Him yet or not. The redemption price was paid and we can only be reconciled to God through our faith in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 6.19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

No longer living for ourselves means having a constant awareness that He bought us with His own blood, and put the Holy Spirit in us. We belong to Him, and by implication should be doing what honours Him. Everyone then, should understand and purposefully live for God. We should resist the forces that want to drive us to the contrary. Our will, choices and commitment should be geared towards God. For whom do you live – self interests, other people or God?

Shalom children of God.

How Long, O Lord? Why?

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalms 6.2-4 “Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.” – NIV

A prayer of David. His enemies troubled his heart. He had wept and groaned until his eyes grew weak. But the God to Whom he cried seemed to delay to answer. He was fainting in anticipation for delayed answers. He now asks God for how long this would go on. His body was giving way, almost to death. Things appeared bleak and uncertain.

Many a time we face similar scenarios. The situations of life taunt us. Things are not working out as they ought to. Sometimes it is one challenge after another in continuous succession. We wonder what’s wrong, pray to God and seek His intervention, and He seems quiet. Those who don’t wish us well celebrate as we struggle with no earthly solution coming our way. And the inevitable question comes through; Lord why and for how long will you allow this in my life, family, business, career… ? How long more O Lord?

It’s at such tough times that our minds become very susceptible to satanic manipulations of doubt in the love, faithfulness, goodness and care of God. When God seems not to answer, He hasn’t denied us. He means well for us even in delays. In His omniscience, He knows why and when the best time to respond to us is. One assurance we have from His unfailing word is that He answers every prayer we make in accordance with His word. Hang in there dear child of God, He will answer you in the best way and time known to Him. It’ll be well.

Psalm 27:13-14 “[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” KJV

Shalom children of God.

Meditations on God’s Protection

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalms 91
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the LORD, who is my refuge–then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” – NIV

Shalom children of God. Enjoy His assured protection

No Confidence in the Flesh

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Philippians 3.3-4 “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh–
though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more… ”

Heretic teachers taught about physical circumcision for the gentile Christians as part of the requirements for ‘proper’ salvation and worship of God. Paul cautioned the Philippians about them and added that true worship of God happened by the Holy Spirit. It’s not about our works. He noted that actual circumcision is of the heart, a change that comes through repentance. When enumerating the things he once gloried in, Paul mentioned circumcision as one of the religious rituals he underwent. But God now requires us to worship Him in truth and spirit, not by performance of rituals.

There are many religious activities people do as fulfilment for acceptance to God and as acts of worship. These accomplishments in the flesh trigger pride and self confidence that people like to boast about, or self condemnation when they fail to perform them. But these accomplishments in the body, without God are futile. It’s what Jesus does in us that we can pride in. He Himself said without Him, we in our own efforts can do nothing (John 15:5). In our human acts without God, nothing good can come out because of the fallen nature of man. And we cannot trust in our selves to please and bring Him glory. Isaiah said our self righteousness is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6).

At the end, we need to come to a point of total reliance and surrender to God’s working in and through us. Does this mean passive resignation to God as we do nothing? Absolutely not. We are to live in acknowledgment of our dependence on Him, and to do whatever we do by His grace and guidance. Even the best of human knowledge, abilities, endeavors and efforts are limited. We need Him.

Proverbs 3.5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Shalom children of God. Have a blessed week

More than All the Treasures of this Life!

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philipians 3:7-8 KJV )

Apostle Paul enumerated several qualities, privileges and accomplishments that could make him proud of himself. He was a very religious Pharisee in the strictest sense, well educated under some of the best scholars of his day, very knowlegeable and zealous for the law, prominent, and a host of other proud achievements attached to His name. He was a very successful man by any standards of his day.

But his story and perspective totally changed one day on the Damascus road when he encountered Christ Jesus in His glory. The things he formerly treasured and was proud of, now appeared like dung to him compared to the surpassing knowledge of Jesus. He found something far greater, more glorious than any earthly treasure he had known before; knowing Jesus Christ the Lord. Henceforth, anything else didn’t matter, including his own life. No wonder he declared in Romans 8:38-39; “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He had seen the King of glory. Nothing could stand in his way any more.

Many of our struggles for achievement and recognition in life are so that we can feel good, fulfilled and probably live happy lives. Noble as these may be, it’s important to know that there is something far greater, splendid and more satisfying than them: finding and making Jesus the Lord of your life. He gives joy, peace, meaning and purpose to life that no earthly treasure can give. The glories of this life that we admire excite but alittle. They don’t meet the deepest human need that only God our Creator gives.

Friends, in Christ Jesus is hidden all treasures of knowledge and wisdom, peace and joy unknown to those outside Him, or operating superficially in Him. The best of the best that this world offers, that people spent their entire lives on, is but a climpse into the vast treasures God has for us in Christ Jesus. The day you truly discover it, you will understand why Paul spoke the way he did. And the good news is that it’s accessible to anyone who chooses the Lordship of Jesus over their lives and continues in Him. You can do now wherever you are.

• Shalom children of God. Have a great Sunday Continue reading “More than all the treasures of this world”

Think About Such Things… Continue reading “Think About Such Things…”

By pastor  Aggrey Soyekwo

Looking Back to Look Forward

1 Samuel 17:37 “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”- NIV

This is a familiar story of how a young, ill equipped, war inexperienced David, fought and defeated an experienced, well armed giant, Goliath. When king Saul doubted him, David revealed the secret of his courage to fight Goliath in the verse above. He was fully persuaded that the God who saved and enabled him kill a lion and bear, was able to deliver Goliath to him. And Saul released him. The power of a testimony!

Every victory we experience is built on a previous one or is setting the stage for another victory. This is the reason God told Israel to perpetually hold certain celebrations and memorials, especially to remind them of the slavery and deliverance by His mighty hand. Such remembrance revives faith and energised them to face the present and future challenges with confidence. They would remind them of what God did and can still do. If we won in the past, we can win today and tomorrow because the God Who gave us victory in the past is still the same God today and tomorrow. He doesn’t change.

Friends, let’s not forget what God has done for us before. Sometimes the present or anticipated future challenges look overwhelming as did Goliath appear to Israel and David. As his faith was encouraged by the unchanging God who delivered him from the bear and the lion, and would definitely deliver Goliath into his hand, so shall ours be as we remember what God has done. We can face the future with confidence, tough, imposing and uncertain as it might appear, by looking back to what God has done before. He can do it again.

Psalms 103:2-5 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 17:37 “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”- NIV

This is a familiar story of how a young, ill equipped, war inexperienced David, fought and defeated an experienced, well armed giant, Goliath. When king Saul doubted him, David revealed the secret of his courage to fight Goliath in the verse above. He was fully persuaded that the God who saved and enabled him kill a lion and bear, was able to deliver Goliath to him. And Saul released him. The power of a testimony!

Every victory we experience is built on a previous one or is setting the stage for another victory. This is the reason God told Israel to perpetually hold certain celebrations and memorials, especially to remind them of the slavery and deliverance by His mighty hand. Such remembrance revives faith and energised them to face the present and future challenges with confidence. They would remind them of what God did and can still do. If we won in the past, we can win today and tomorrow because the God Who gave us victory in the past is still the same God today and tomorrow. He doesn’t change.

Friends, let’s not forget what God has done for us before. Sometimes the present or anticipated future challenges look overwhelming as did Goliath appear to Israel and David. As his faith was encouraged by the unchanging God who delivered him from the bear and the lion, and would definitely deliver Goliath into his hand, so shall ours be as we remember what God has done. We can face the future with confidence, tough, imposing and uncertain as it might appear, by looking back to what God has done before. He can do it again.

Psalms 103:2-5 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Shalom children of God.

 

Romans 5:1-5 “… And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – NIV

Paul was teaching on justification that comes by faith and gives us peace with God through Christ Jesus. This faith comes along with sufferings for the gospel and for the Lord’s name. And not to think suffering is all there is to this faith, he emphasizes that our faith gives us a hope of God’s glory. This makes us rejoice in eager expectation of what lies ahead of us in this faith. It will not be a miserable ending.

This hope is founded on suffering, which produces perseverance, and then character. And character produces hope – a hope that does not disappoint. This is why genuine suffering for a godly and just cause is to be recieved with joy when one considers its outcome. Without such a view beyond the present pain of suffering, into the glorious hope ahead, one’s spirit can be dampened by the misery of hardship. It’s the reason James encourages us to count it joy when faced with suffering of various kinds for the Lord (James 1:2).

Friends, we have a living glorious hope in Jesus that awaits all who remain true to the faith. Let’s faithfully face any hardships in the present time with this in mind. Jesus, for the joy of the glory ahead, endured the cross and is now seated at God’s right hand in glory. We too shall, if we follow His path.

Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Hebrews12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Shalom children of God.

 

Titus 1:15-16 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”

This is the perplexing ironny we see alot today. Many people claim to know God. They express this in attending church, active in religious activities and their talk is sometimes laced with God-like religious undertones. But the things they do and speak nullify their claims about knowing God. Paul gives the reason for this: their minds and consciences are corrupted. And so even if they pretend and hide, the true state of their corrupted minds and hearts will always manifest in their actions.

When a person has truly been transformed by the word from within, everything they do will prove it. But if the transformation is partial and only part of them has been changed, the corrupt nature will still show up. Their corrupt minds will see everything from a corrupt mindset. This is why we see many claiming to know God but What they do doesn’t match their claims. Such people bring shame to the Lord’s name and the gospel. Paul’s advice to the Roman church would be good for them as well: 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.”

What exactly is the state of your mind and heart? Know God and truly live as one who knows Him. Don’t be an ‘opportunistic’ believer and double dealer. Then you become detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good in God’s kingdom. Examine yourself!

Shalom children of God.