Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? Job 1:10a The story of Job is often used to illustrate the point that God’s people are not immune from trials and tribulations that afflict the rest of humanity. However, it is noteworthy that out of all the reports Job received about the terrible things that had happened to him and his household, none mentioned the devil’s involvement. Why? Because those who brought the reports only witnessed the physical manifestations of things that were happening in the spiritual realm. Similarly, when...

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the clay is in the potter’s hand…” Jeremiah 18:6 In the portion of scripture above, God is reminding the people of Israel that He has the capacity to transform His creations in the same way a potter can improve an imperfect artefact he made. He is, in effect, asking the Israelites if they have enough faith to believe that He can change their negative circumstances. The question is still relevant to us as believers today. This story of the potter and his pottery is often used to teach us...

As we continue to follow Jairus on his journey to a miracle in Mark 5: 22-43, we remember the 3 things we learnt from Jairus journey so far. In summary, to take every problem to God, to wait on Him in simple trust and finally, to let the testimonies of other people encourage us while we wait to receive ours. Sadly, while Jesus was having a conversation with the woman who got healed, bad news was heading to Jairus. The news of his daughter’s death came to meet them right there where Jesus had stopped! Oh the feelings of Confusion, Sadness,...

In Mark 5: 22 - 43, the Bible tells us the story of a man desperate for a miracle for his daughter who was at the point of death. His name was Jairus and he was one of the rulers of the synagogue. Prominent people like Jairus could not afford to be seen publicly with Jesus (remember Nicodemus who saw Jesus by night), but he could not deny the fact that Jesus had the solution to his problem and so he humbled himself and came to ask for help. Fortunately, Jesus agreed to go with him and heal his daughter,...

To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 4: 12 As a minister, I regularly encourage believers to identify ministry roles that they can take up so as to serve and glorify God with their gifts alongside their jobs, businesses, studies, etc. The importance of applying our skills and time in service to God through our local church or other platforms cannot be overstated. We have all benefitted from the service that other believers have rendered to God as Sunday school teachers, pastors, ushers, singers, instrumentalists, and so on....

God’s commandment is clear: a man and a woman become one flesh in marriage. Yet many couples live together physically but are in reality walled off from one another in water-tight compartments. These compartments are full of secret actions, secret plans and secret thoughts that they hide from each other. That is why many marriages today are slowly suffocating to death because they lack the oxygen of openness and sincerity.   Openness means a lack of restriction. Unhindered access. Frankness. Lack of secrecy or concealment. Sincerity refers to the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. In other...

Last week, we identified the willingness of couples to forgive each other as an important ingredient for a successful marriage. Since disagreements are inevitable in an intense, in-your-face, 24/7 relationship like marriage, the capacity to forgive is indeed critical.   But there is no better basis for a successful marriage or relationship than being best friends. In fact, it is in friendship that the enjoyment of marriage is fully expressed. When people talk about married couples that they admire, respect and want to emulate, it is the obvious friendship that the couple share that they find most impressive. Truly, what...

Once upon a time, we thought divorce was foreign. Not so long ago, divorce cases were very uncommon in Nigeria. It was mostly something that happened in western countries, something that we read about in novels and newspapers or observed in television dramas. Not anymore. Divorce is in our backyard. Today, divorce cases constitute a large percentage of cases before Nigerian courts. Recently, in a certain court on a certain day somewhere in Nigeria, all five cases that were brought before the Judge were all divorce cases!   The saddest part is that many, if not most of these divorce...