WISDOM FOR THE DAY DEVOTIONAL
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
TOPIC: EMBRACE THE TRUTH
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32 (NKJV)
Over the years, the Church has tried many tactics and strategies, from clever programs to influential connections. At times, these efforts seemed to work, drawing crowds and growing congregations. Yet even after the numbers increased, there remained a deep sense of emptiness. Why? Because growth that is not founded on truth cannot sustain life. Only the truth has the power to set people free from struggle and emptiness.
Beloved, when you encounter the truth of the gospel, do not brush it aside. Embrace it! Pay attention to it. Walk in it, and let it shape your life and ministry. The truth will change you from the inside out; it will transform your family, your work, your ministry, and every area of your life. It will make you strong in faith and fill your service to God with joy and purpose.
Sometimes, reading Scripture can feel routine or even tiring, especially when done as a mere religious duty. But when you begin to see yourself in the Word, when you realize that you are reading your own spiritual reality, everything changes. Passion rises within you. You become hungry to know more about what God says concerning you, and that hunger will drive you to success and fulfillment in life.
When Jesus visited the synagogue in Nazareth, He was handed the Scriptures. He deliberately opened to the passage that spoke of His divine purpose and read aloud: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” – Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
Jesus discovered and declared His mandate from the Word. Likewise, when you find your mandate in Scripture, everything begins to fall into place. But it starts with embracing the truth.
The gospel is the revelation of what Christ accomplished for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. He came to deal with what we could never handle on our own. It is not about your efforts or performance; it is all about what has already been perfected through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
So, let go of striving. Rest in the truth. Walk in what has already been done, and live free.
Further Reading: Philippians 3:1-21.
Daily Bible Reading: Morning – Genesis. 49-50, Evening – Matthew 13:31-58