Entire Nigeria is hurt by senseless killings

 

Boko Haram has devastated lives and the economy.

Bulama Bukarti, an analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said the failure to control Boko Haram has devastated lives and the economy.

“The security forces are obviously losing this war,” he told Al Jazeera, describing 2019 as “the deadliest year” for Nigerian security forces since Boko Haram’s armed campaign started in 2009.

 

“About 800 security forces were killed, mostly in the first half of last year, and the Nigerian military responded by changing its strategy introducing what they called the ‘super camp strategy’ by which they withdrew soldiers from remote communities and rural areas and consolidated them in what they call ‘super camps’ in order to reduce military fatalities,” Bukarti said.

“The strategy succeeded in reducing military fatalities but the side-effect of that is that the Nigerian military has effectively surrendered control of rural Nigeria to Boko Haram fighters.

“You have Boko Haram ruling northeastern Nigeria and criminal gangs ruling the rural communities of northwestern Nigeria; this has a devastating effect on Nigeria’s economy and the future of the country entirely.”

More than 200 people die everyday in Nigeria due to insurgents

Borno Governor Babaganan Umara Zulum told journalists that at least 70 farmers were killed. He was speaking in Zabarmari village after attending the burial of 43 people whose bodies were recovered on Saturday.

 

Zulum urged the federal government to recruit more soldiers, Civilian Joint Task Force members and civil defence fighters to protect farmers in the region.

He described people facing desperate choices.

“In one side, they stay at home they may be killed by hunger and starvation; on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents,” he said.

Tens of civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in Borno State

 A “gruesome” massacre against farmers in northeastern Nigeria killed “tens of people”, the United Nations said late on Sunday, amending an earlier statement putting the death toll at 110.

The killings took place in the early afternoon of Saturday in the village of Koshobe and other rural communities in the Jere local government area near Maiduguri, the capital of the conflict-hit Borno state.

“Armed men on motorcycles led a brutal attack on civilian men and women who were harvesting their fields,” Edward Kallon, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, said in the statement.

“Tens of civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack,” he added.

“The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice,” Kallon said.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, but the armed group Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), have carried out a series of deadly assaults in the area in recent years.

Both groups are active in the region, where fighters have killed more than 30,000 people in the past decade during an armed campaign that has displaced some two million and has spread to neighbouring countries including Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Growth in Christ

 

1. SPIRITUAL INFANCY (NEW BIRTH STAGE)

At this stage, a believer is newly born again and dependent on spiritual nourishment.

• a) This is the stage of new believers in Christ – Just as babies need milk, new Christians need foundational teachings (1 Peter 2:2).
• b) There is a hunger for God but limited understanding – The excitement of salvation is high, but spiritual knowledge is shallow (Hebrews 5:12).
• c) Dependence on spiritual mentors and teachers is necessary – New believers need guidance to avoid spiritual errors (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).
• d) There is vulnerability to false teachings and temptations – The enemy targets spiritual infants to hinder their growth (Ephesians 4:14).
• e) Biblical Example: The Corinthians were still behaving like infants in Christ, needing milk instead of solid food (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

2. SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD (GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE AND CHARACTER)

In this stage, believers begin to develop in their faith and relationship with God.

• a) There is growth in understanding but struggles with spiritual discipline – Christians in this stage start learning God’s Word but may still struggle with worldly desires (1 John 2:12-13).
• b) The desire for deeper fellowship with God increases – There is a hunger for prayer and Bible study (Psalm 42:1-2).
• c) There is a need for training in righteousness – Spiritual growth requires discipline and correction (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• d) The believer begins to develop spiritual gifts and fruit – Character formation and ministry involvement begin (Galatians 5:22-23).
• e) Biblical Example: The disciples of Jesus, though growing, often struggled with faith and understanding (Matthew 8:26).

3. SPIRITUAL ADOLESCENCE (MATURING IN FAITH AND SERVICE)

At this stage, believers begin to take on responsibility and exercise their faith.

• a) There is stability in faith and doctrine – The believer can discern between true and false teachings (Hebrews 5:14).
• b) Active participation in ministry and service begins – There is a growing passion to serve God and others (Romans 12:11).
• c) Trials and challenges come as tests of faith – Spiritual growth is refined through challenges (James 1:2-4).
• d) A deeper level of intimacy with God develops – Prayer, fasting, and studying the Word become a lifestyle (Colossians 2:6-7).
• e) Biblical Example: Timothy grew from a young believer to a strong leader in the faith (1 Timothy 4:12).

4. SPIRITUAL MATURITY (WALKING IN FULLNESS AND LEADING OTHERS)

This stage represents the fullness of Christian growth, where believers lead and disciple others.

• a) There is a deep and unwavering faith in God – Mature believers are steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• b) They become mentors and spiritual leaders – They guide others in their spiritual journey (2 Timothy 2:2).
• c) Spiritual authority and influence increase – Mature believers operate in divine wisdom and power (Hebrews 5:13-14).
• d) They live a life of complete surrender and obedience to God – Every action is guided by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20).
• e) Biblical Example: Paul, who went from being a persecutor to a strong leader in the church, mentoring Timothy and others (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

CONCLUSION:

Every believer is called to grow from spiritual infancy to maturity in Christ. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it requires intentional effort in studying God’s Word, prayer, service, and obedience.

Where are you in your spiritual journey? Are you growing, or are you stagnant? God desires that we progress from being spiritual infants to mature Christians who can impact others and advance His kingdom.

Three Stages of Growth

 

Christians are called to “grow up”; that is, we are to “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph. 4:15). Sometimes we have growth spurts, but growth tends to be slow and gradual. From day to day, I don’t notice my son growing. But every few months, I wonder, “How did you grow up so fast?” I’m already lamenting, “You’re not a baby anymore!” While there is not an exact point at which a child passes from infancy into youth or adulthood, growth is typically measured in stages. The same is true for spiritual growth.

For centuries, Christian teachers have conceptualized the Christian life in terms of clear stages of spiritual growth. Disciples need goals, or they tend to get stuck. When they do not feel as though their Christian life is headed somewhere—when they think about themselves as just “saved and sanctified and waiting for heaven”—they are likely to end up like teenagers who never move out of their parent’s basement. Unless they understand what it means to be a spiritual adult, they are likely to rely completely on their pastor as teens rely on their mom to do the laundry, never realizing that God has something more for them.

Three Stages of Growth in 1 John 2:12–14

T. A. Noble notes that in 1 John 2:12–14, “John gives us the earliest passage in Christian literature referring to distinct stages in growth in the Christian life, those of infancy, youth, and parenthood (2:12–14)”:

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Basil the Great recognized three stages of growth in the Christian life by reflecting on the patterns of language across the canon of Scripture: “We have been taught in many passages of Scripture that [1] there is one state of the soul which is like a child, [2] another which is like a man in his prime, and [3] another which is like a man who is already old and venerable” (Prov. 13).

There are three distinct stages of growth in the Christian life: childhood, youth, and parenthood.

“For example,” Basil continues, “as we have learned from Paul, the Corinthians were babes; therefore they still needed milk—that is, the introductory and simpler teaching of the gospel—because they could not yet master the solid food of doctrine.”

Second, he describes spiritual adolescents: “That person is young in soul who is perfectly taught in all the branches of virtue, who is fervent in spirit [Acts 18.25], who is eager for the practices of piety, and who being in his prime is vigorous in every way for the performance of good works.”

Finally, he describes spiritual adults or elders: “But that person is old and venerable in soul who has been perfected in prudence. Such was Daniel, who while young in body showed that the honor which intelligence obtains is more respectable than every grey hair. Therefore, the men who were full of wicked days said to him: Come, sit among us, and tell us, for God has given you the right of a venerable elder [Dan 13.50].”

Basil uses young Daniel as an example of a spiritual elder to make it clear that being a spiritual adult is about spiritual maturity, not age. It is possible to be 70 years of age and a spiritual baby. It is possible to be 30 years of age and a spiritual elder.

Let’s consider these three stages of spiritual maturity.

• Stage 1: Infancy/childhood (“little children”/“children”)
• Stage 2: Youth (“young men”)
• Stage 3: Parenthood (“fathers”)

Stage 1: Spiritual Childhood

John identifies “little children” as those whose “sins are forgiven for his name’s sake” and who “know the Father” (Jn. 2:12, 13c). New believers have their sins forgiven and are exploring a new relationship with God as their Father.

Those who are forgiven are also born again or regenerated into God’s family by the Holy Spirit (Titus 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:5). As a child is formed in his mother’s womb, a Christian is supernaturally formed by the Spirit in the womb of the Church. In the new birth, those who were dead in sin are given new spiritual life within.

As a child is formed in his mother’s womb, a Christian is supernaturally formed by the Spirit in the womb of the Church.

John’s First Epistle tells us how we can know that we have been born again. We are born of God if we believe that Jesus is the Christ (1 Jn. 5:1), practice righteousness (1 Jn. 2:29), overcome the world (1 Jn. 5:4), and do not keep on sinning (1 Jn. 3:9; 5:18). Moreover, the Spirit witnesses with our spirits that we are children of God: ‘“You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Rom. 8:15). Like an infant who looks for his daddy and cries “Dada!” we have a new upward longing for God—new spiritual desire within.

The new birth is the most radical change that any person can experience. It is a 180-degree turn on the road of life. The believer stops traveling the Way of Death and begins walking on the Way of Life (see Didache Ch. 1). The old life of sin is put to death through baptism, and the believer rises to new life in Christ (Rom. 6:1–4). But despite this glorious change, a new believer is still a spiritual baby.

1. Babies are immature and self-centered: “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants [nēpios] in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1).
2. Babies are ignorant and unskilled: “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child [nēpios]” (Heb. 5:13).
3. Babies are unstable and impressionable: “that we may no longer be children [nēpios], tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Eph. 4:14).
4. Babies need milk: “Like newborn infants [brefos], long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2).

Spiritual babies are immature, self-centered, ignorant, unskilled, unstable, impressionable, and need milk.

This is understandable. We are not frustrated when children stumble and fall. They need time to learn and grow. But there comes a point at which this behavior is unacceptable. Too many Christians remain babies forever. It is possible to be a Christian for 20 or 30 years and still be a spiritual child. The author of Hebrews expressed his frustration over the delayed maturity of his spiritual children:

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (Heb. 5:11–13)

The Hebrews should have been spiritual parents who were mature enough to raise other spiritual children in the church; however, they were still spiritual infants. This is not God’s will! God wants us to grow up!

Stage 2: Spiritual Youth

Spiritual growth is the norm, not the exception. A healthy baby will grow. If a baby is not growing, he is probably malnourished, sick, or dying. A spiritual child should soon grow into a spiritual youth.

Spiritual youth “are strong, and the word of God abides in them, and they have overcome the wicked one” (2:14b, cf. 2:13b). “‘Young men’ refers to those in the stage of completing their full maturity in spiritual understanding” (Karen H. Jobes, ZECNT 1, 2, & 3 Jn.).

Every Christian needs to be closely connected to a local church because we grow in Christ as we are connected to a life-giving body.

When God gives us the Holy Spirit, he connects us to Jesus, the head or source of spiritual life, and to his body, the church. From Christ the head, spiritual life flows to the body. As spiritual life flows, the body grows. This is why it is so important for every Christian to be closely connected to a local church. We grow in Christ as we are connected to a life-giving body.

Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph. 4:15–16)

Hold fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (Col. 2:19)

A spiritual youth is learning to bear mature spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:16–25) and please God more and more (1 Thess. 4:1–5, 9). He is becoming mature in his thinking (1 Cor. 14:20), and developing spiritual discernment as he trains his heart and mind by the word of God:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Php. 1:9–11)

It is exciting to be a spiritual youth. But just like actual adolescence, it comes with a unique set of dangers.

1. Youth tend to have more zeal than wisdom. They are like James and John who want to call fire from heaven on Samaritans who did not receive Jesus (Lk. 9:54). They need to give serious attention to the Book of Proverbs: “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Prov. 1:2–5).
2. Youth tend to act like “know-it-alls.” As they increase in knowledge, they may assume that they are experts on Scripture and theology when in fact they have only scratched the surface.
3. Youth tend to be naive when interacting with others in the body. As they get more involved in the church’s life, they may overreact when they encounter depravity and hypocrisy in the church.
4. Youth tend to fixate on issues. They lack the maturity to see the big picture and take the long view on matters that frustrate them in the church or in their relationships.

If spiritual youth are humble, teachable, and disciplined as they press on to full maturity in Christ, they will be able to resist delayed adolescence and achieve spiritual parenthood.

If spiritual youth are humble, teachable, and disciplined as they press on to full maturity in Christ, they will be able to resist delayed adolescence and achieve spiritual parenthood.

Stage 3: Spiritual Parenthood

Spiritual fathers “know him who is from the beginning” (2:13a cf. 2:14a). They have a mature and intimate knowledge of God. They are able to think mature thoughts (Php. 3:15).

This is what a pastor desires for every member of the church: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). The maturity of the church is the focus of pastoral praying (Col. 4:12). It is the reason why pastors were given to the church:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Eph. 4:11–15)

Pastors are not primarily called to make spiritual children; they are called to equip believers to be spiritual parents who make disciples.

John refers to mature Christians as parents rather than adults. Mature Christians are able to train others in Christian living.

John refers to mature Christians as parents rather than adults. “His address to ‘fathers’ reflects a call to those who are mature enough to be training others in Christian living” (Jobes). Healthy churches have Christians at every stage of spiritual growth, but they must have spiritual parents. When an unstable and immature spiritual infant or youth tries to train others in Christian living, disaster often ensues. But those who are spiritually stable and doctrinally sound are able to reproduce mature disciples.

In contrast to spiritual babies and spiritual youth,

1. 1. Parents are stable and reliable. They are “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves” (Eph. 4:14).
   2. Parents are knowledgeable and able to teach others. They are “teachers,” skilled in the word of righteousness (Heb. 5:12–13), and may qualify to be elders or teachers in the local church, since elders are required to be “able to teach” in addition to having exemplary character (1 Tim. 3:1–7; cf. Titus 1:5–9).
   3. Parents are discerning. “The mature … have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).
   4. Parents are wise and have control of their passions.

The church needs more spiritual parents. If your church is filled with spiritual children, be careful of focusing on outreach—bringing more spiritual children into the family of God—instead of discipleship—helping others to learn and obey all that Christ has commanded so that they can become mature and teach others. Without spiritual parents, a church can never be healthy.

Peter Obi in Jakarta

 

February 2025

OVERCOMING FEAR

 OVERCOMING FEAR

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”— Isaiah 41:10

Fear has a way of paralyzing us, hindering our progress, and robbing us of our peace. But as God’s children, we are called to overcome fear and walk confidently in His presence and power. When fear tries to grip our hearts, we can find strength in God’s promises. The Lord assures us that He is with us, holding us in His mighty hands. In the face of uncertainty, we can trust in God’s faithfulness and goodness. Overcoming fear requires a shift in our perspective. Rather than dwelling on our anxieties, we can focus on the truth of God’s Word. We are reminded that we serve a God who is greater than any fear we may face. His strength and help are readily available. Courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to press forward despite our fears. When we surrender our fears to God, He equips us with His strength, enabling us to face challenges with courage and resilience. In God we find refuge, peace, and the assurance that we are never alone. Today let us surrender our fears into God’s able hands. May we meditate on His promises, allowing His truth to cast fear from our hearts. With confidence in His presence and strength, we can move forward toward the purposes God has for our lives, knowing that He is faithful to sustain us.

This Week’s Devotional Verse: — 2 Timothy 1:7–

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

SPIRITUAL WARFARE Day 1

READING: Ephesians 6:10-18

In our journey of faith, we engage in spiritual warfare. The enemy seeks to distract, discourage, and deceive us. However, we need not fear because in Christ we are equipped to win. God has provided us with spiritual equipment to resist the devil’s tricks. We are called to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. To engage in spiritual warfare, we must be alert, watchful, and prayerful. We rely on God’s strength and guidance, knowing that the battle is His. Our weapons are not of the world, but they are powerful and effective through God to destroy strongholds. As we fight spiritual warfare, let us stand firm in truth, firm in righteousness, and firm in faith. Let us immerse ourselves in the Word of God, allowing it to guide and protect us. In every battle, may our prayers be fervent and our trust unshakeable. We must live with fear but with faith. We understand that faith is the absence of fear and those who live by faith will never mix it with fear. When we have done what God has asked of us, we will be bold and fearless because we know that God is always with us.

Day 2 JESUS ​​SAVES US FROM DEATH

READING: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-16

In John 3, Jesus taught that the strange story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 points to Him and His work of healing. Jesus saves us from sin and death. The book of Numbers contains many stories of the Israelites complaining to God as they journeyed through the wilderness. In Numbers 21, they complain again about food. And in this case, God punished them for their rebellion and disobedience. Like many Bible stories, this story continues with a plea for forgiveness, and God gave a gracious response. But that response was very unusual. God said, “Make a serpent and put it on a pole; and whoever looks at it will live.” The bronze serpent that Moses made was a kind of antidote to the venom of the snake that was biting people. Seeing the bronze serpent lifted up saved people from death. Jesus brought up this old story as He was teaching about the work He had come to do. Jesus came to save us from the death we ourselves caused by sinning and rebelling against God. Lifted up on the cross for us, Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. And when we look to Jesus in faith, trusting in the power of His sacrifice to save, “in him we may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This removes the fear of death from us. We will no longer fear death, because Jesus has paid the price and we will no longer be subject to the fear of death.

Day 3 FAITH WITHOUT FEAR

READING: Matthew 8:5-13

We must have faith in Jesus without fear so that we will always be heard. When we pray to God, our fear will be firm and we will not hesitate or be afraid. Sometimes we believe but do not agree that our prayers have the power to change a situation, so we start looking elsewhere. We can be encouraged by the faith of a Roman centurion who had faith in Jesus. And even though Jesus offered to go to the man’s house, the centurion said that he knew Jesus could heal his servant just by saying the word—and so the servant was healed. He knew that his servant was safe in Jesus’ arms, even from a distance. And Jesus commended the centurion for having greater faith than anyone he had ever met in his ministry. We too can have enough faith to ask Jesus for everything we need. He is willing to come and help, no matter where we are or what we need. In fact, He promises that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20), so we can trust that we are always safe in His arms.

Day 4 WHO ARE WE GOING WITH

READING: John 6:60-69

Have you ever had a morning when you crawl out of bed exhausted, stubbed your toe, burned your toast, and everything else going wrong? It’s a day like that that makes you want to go right back to bed. Or maybe it’s been harder, and someone has told you to hold on when you want to let go. I wonder if Jesus’ disciples felt that way when people turned away from Jesus after he shared some hard but true teachings. I wonder how many times the disciples weren’t sure what to do with Jesus. Was it embarrassing or confusing or overwhelming for them? Because they had committed themselves to Jesus, they knew they couldn’t give up or let go. Jesus, who was clearly the Son of God, had fulfilled the longing of their hearts—and even on their worst days, they knew that traveling with Jesus was enough. When he asked, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered with words that confirmed what the disciples felt: “We have no one else to turn to, and you are the only one we need.” On days when you feel like giving up, giving in, or abandoning your faith, where do you go? It’s too hard to leave the One who holds you close by His presence and His words. Through His character, He assures you that even on a bad day, He is there.

Day 5 THE POWER OF PRESENCE

READING: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

As Jacob sat down for breakfast at a restaurant, his best friend Jack said to him for the tenth time, “I love you, Brother Jacob; I love you so much!” He certainly didn’t feel like he deserved that love because he hadn’t seen Jack in years. He was there because a friend had faithfully kept in touch far better than he had. So, this breakfast meeting was long overdue. Several years ago, Jacob had been in touch with Jack quite a bit. Jack had been going through a difficult time with many personal struggles. Jack had a young daughter to care for, and Jacob was one of the few people who did their best to surround Jack with attention and encouragement. But Jack saw it all as a gift from Jesus. But time passed, Jack moved to a different area, and Jacob hadn’t seen him in a long time. As Jacob processed his own guilt for letting their friendship end, Jack also began to see clearly what a gift Jacob had been to him. He showed him what resilient faith looked like in the midst of a difficult story. Even though Jack had been gone for so long, there was such joy when Jack showed up. The other friends and Jacob joked that they had heard “I love you” more times from Jack that day than they had heard from any of their family members before. Jacob was reminded of how powerful our presence is. It reminds us of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 18:20 that His presence is always with us. When we remember this verse, our fears are erased and we are empowered to face life’s challenges. Jack was encouraged by Jacob during his difficult times, that if we have good friends, they will always help us to live life without fear of the unknown.

Day 6 DO NOT DOUBT

READING: John 20:24-29

I can understand Thomas’ doubt. For some reason, he wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus first visited them after His resurrection, so he didn’t see Jesus in person. Maybe he should have taken the disciples at their word when they told him they had seen Jesus. Maybe he should have had more faith. Or maybe he was just an unbeliever. Whatever the case, Thomas said he couldn’t believe that Jesus was alive until he saw Jesus for himself. When Jesus returned and Thomas could see Him, Jesus was patient with Thomas. Jesus even showed Thomas what he thought he needed to see in order to believe. But Jesus also noted that all who believe without seeing Him will be blessed. Today, that includes you and me. Believing without seeing is the nature of our faith most of the time. We probably won’t see Christ in person until we join Him in eternity. But until then, we believe even though we haven’t seen. We are called to have faith in Jesus because of who He is, all He has done, and all He has promised. We believe because others have seen, because others have witnessed, and because their testimonies are in God’s Word for us, along with all of God’s promises. We believe because God’s Spirit guides us into the truth of God’s Word and gives us faith (see John 16:7-15; Ephesians 2:6-10). And in believing we are blessed.

Day 7 GOD CARES FOR US

READING: Psalm 23:3

Although sheep are not marked in the same way that cattle are, they do have the mark of their owner along with other helpful information that identifies them. God’s sheep also have the name of their shepherd. We are God’s beloved sheep, and He gives us the best care “for His name’s sake.” His reputation is reflected in all the ways He cares for us. What is our shepherd known for? As God reveals Himself through His Word, we learn that He is powerful and wise, merciful and all-knowing, faithful and good, kind and just, loving and trustworthy. God works for the good of those He loves. All of these qualities and more are demonstrated in the way God cares for His sheep. Our shepherd does not want anyone to wonder if he is a fickle or erratic caretaker. His reputation for consistent and consistent care for the sheep is important because he wants other sheep to join his flock. The care they receive in his fold is unmatched. Although the wayward sheep are tempted by self-confidence or by relying on worldly things such as money, status, or power to help them, the shepherding God wants them to know that His care is best because He knows their needs best and meets them without fail. The psalmist’s statement here is a statement of faith because nothing in the shepherd’s behavior contradicts this truth.”

Ahmed Photos

 

ANOTHER DEBORAH BEATEN TO DEATH IN KANO

 ANOTHER DEBORAH BEATEN TO DEATH IN KANO

A Christian Southerner Divisional Police Officer (DPO) has been beaten to death in Kano today. Other 'northern' police in the station kept silent while he was beaten to death.

Nobody in government has issued any statement...and his killers have been allowed to go free. For how long can we continue with this. The man had a wife and had children...who will care for them. Did we say 1-Nigeria?

Another Deborah has been killed today and swept under the carpet.

My Phone Pictures