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Tag: love

  • The surrendered life – By Femi Aribisala

    The surrendered life – By Femi Aribisala

    “The Good Shepherd lives for the sheep”.

    When man imagines God, he sees Him carnally strictly in terms of His power and might. But when God manifested Himself in the flesh, He came as a meek and lowly suffering servant.

    Isaiah foresaw Jesus as: “a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.” (Isaiah 53:2). He wonders if anyone would believe his report. The prime expression of God in Christ is not His power but His love. Thus, while others say God is powerful: the disciple of Jesus says God is love. (1 John 4:8).

    Powerful love

    Power is a key expression of the Law of Moses. This is often demonstrated through retributive justice: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Exodus 21:24).

    But Jesus reveals that force is not that powerful, but that love is the most powerful force of all. A man can put a gun to our head, and still fail to obtain from us our most prized possessions because they are kept in our hearts. But when we are overwhelmed by love, we give everything, holding nothing back.

    Thus, God asks the believer in the confidence of His expressed love for us: “My son, give me your heart.” (Proverbs 23:26). We obey because we are overwhelmed by God’s love. John says: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

    How does Jesus love?  Let us listen to Him: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13).

    We must love by laying down our lives for others. We must not fall into the Christian confusion that Jesus laid down His life for us, so we do not have to do so. He laid down His life for us, to show us we must lay down our lives for others.

    The example Jesus set for us preceded Calvary; so, this is not about Jesus dying for our sins on the cross. We lay down our lives for others by serving them.

    The Good Shepherd

    Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). Many Christians refuse to understand this simple statement. A shepherd does not die for the sheep: he lives for them. A dead shepherd is of no use to the sheep. But a living shepherd leads them to green pastures.

    Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does not die for the sheep. Nevertheless, He gives His life for them. Jesus is talking here about the life of the shepherd and not about his death. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep in the sense that His entire life is devoted to taking care of them. Without a doubt, it is far more difficult to live for the sheep than to die for them.

    Jesus’ crucifixion was a one-time event, but His priesthood as our shepherd is everlasting. Jesus remains our Shepherd today and He is still giving His life for us. The enemy decided to kill the Shepherd so that the sheep would scatter. (Zechariah 13:7); but God countered and neutralised this by raising Him from the dead, never to die again.

    As our Good Shepherd, Jesus should be emulated by His flock. How are we to follow Him in the giving of His life?  Is He asking for His disciples to be killed?  No!  He is asking us to love others by living a life of service.

    He says: “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28). Jesus is asking that we also give our lives as a ransom for others.

    This shows the cross of Jesus was fundamentally His incarnation and not just His crucifixion. His cross was in laying down His life in heaven to come to earth as a Man to show us the way of salvation.

    Jesus says: “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18).

    The “life” Jesus laid down was surely the spiritual, and not the physical, life. Jesus teaches that physical life is inconsequential: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” (Matthew 10:28). The physical life was taken from Him against His will. Therefore, He said in Gethsemane: “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).

    But no one took His divine (eternal) life from Him. He voluntarily relinquished it in heaven to take up a mortal life on earth. After His earthly death and resurrection, He took up again His heavenly life.

    Love by works

    Following this example of Jesus, we do not love by faith. We love by works: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good.” (Acts 10:38).

    “I don’t do anything bad to him.”  That is not loving. Do you do anything good for him?

    “No matter how hard I try, he just continues to insult me.”

    Do not give up. Love does not stop loving. Jesus says:

    “When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17:10).

    Someone wrote to me and said: “My life seems to be without meaning. I don’t know God’s purpose for my life.”

    It is always impossible to know God’s purpose for us when we are self-centred. But once we concentrate on others, we have a purpose. Love is the greatest purpose of all, for God so loved the world. Our great purpose in every relationship is to love. So doing, we fulfil Christ’s mandate.

    God told Abraham: “I will bless you and you will be a blessing.”  In every situation, we must position ourselves as a blessing. Our assignment in life is to serve others, even as Christ served the world.

    There is so much pain in this world. This is a world of sin and sickness. It is a world of trouble and turmoil. Our role is not to add to the evil, of which there is a surplus. Our role is to add to the good, of which there is a deficit. If goodness and mercy are following us around, then we should have a lot of goodness and mercy to dole out to others.

    John says: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:14-16).

  • BBN: Nini lambasts ex-housemates

    Big Brother Naija star, Nini Singh has lambasted those of her colleagues berating her co-star, Saga Adeolu, for ‘losing focus’ on the show because of her.

     

    It was believed that Nini stunted Saga’s potential in the house because he fell in love with her and seemingly made her his sole priority, instead of focusing on winning the game.

     

    The pair were inseparable in the Big Brother Naija house and Saga almost lost his mind when Nini suddenly disappeared from the house when Biggie gave her orders to temporarily exit the show.

     

    Nini spits fire
    Well, the reunion show is currently ongoing and in one of the episodes, Nini who never misses any opportunity to defend Saga, bashed those saying she spoilt Saga’s game.

     

    According to her, despite the claims that Saga lost focus because of her, he still stayed longer in the house, won more games and made more money than those criticizing him.

     

    A while ago, Nini didn’t spare a Twitter user who tried to troll her best friend, fellow reality star, Saga.

     

    A Twitter user took to the micro-blogging platform on Monday night to drag Saga and tagged him a “mumu” for being too clingy to Nini.

     

    Saga had a great crush on Nini during the Big Brother Naija season 6 edition, as you may recall. They had a deep relationship and were always together. He did, however, propose a romantic relationship to Nini, but she declined.

     

    As the housemates of the Shine Ya Eye edition of the reality show reunite for their reunion production, a video of Saga hanging around Nini surfaced online.

     

     

    Reacting to the video, the Twitter user called Saga a “mumu” for following Nini around.

     

    “So they went for Big Brother reunion and Saga was caught following and monitoring Nini. The guy mum no too much “, the troll wrote.

     

    Nini who wouldn’t let any negative comment about her friend slide, on seeing the tweet came to Saga’s defense and lambasted the troll.

     

    “If you followed your life ambitions (that’s if you have any) and monitored your growth, you’d have a better life than struggling to become a useless being that chases clout with other people’s lives”. Nini wrote quoting the tweet.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Return to your first love

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Return to your first love

    By Oke Chinye 

    Read: Revelation 2:4-5

    Meditation verse: 

    “Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev 2:4).

    Some years back, we got two beautiful peacocks: a male and a female. Since  they were new to our home, we tied them to a shrub in a corner of the  compound to prevent them from wandering away. They were feed each day on  that same spot. After a while, we untied them so they could wander around. The  house opposite ours had some peacocks as well and we woke up one morning  to discover that our peacocks had wandered away to join those at our  neighbours. Thy remained there for months.

    One morning, we were surprised to discover that the female peacock had  returned and was lying on the same spot, we had tied them when they newly  arrived. We also saw the male peacock hovering somewhere close by. The  female peacock had returned to lay her eggs. When it was time for her to birth  what was inside of her, she returned to her first home; her first love.

    God uses simple and natural things to teach us important life lessons. In today’s  reading, we see Him warning the church at Ephesus to return to its first love,  else its lampstand will be removed. A lamp is a symbol of guidance. A lampstand  in biblical times was the only source of light in the Holy place. It provided light  for the priests to carry out their duties. So, without the lampstands, they would  be ineffective or unable to function properly.

    If you currently lack clarity in life or are in a place of restlessness and  ineffectiveness, or you are so confused about your next move, returning to your  first love might be a good place to start to get clarity. Your first love is that place  where you connect intimately with God the most. You may need to put

    everything else aside and be still in His presence so that you can be feed,  nourished, instructed, and strengthened. For, “…In returning and rest, you shall  be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15-17).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Finding love in Ghana is difficult – Actress, Yvonne Nelson

    Finding love in Ghana is difficult – Actress, Yvonne Nelson

    Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson has revealed how difficult it is to find love in her country.

    Speaking in an interview with Kingdom + FM in Accra, Nelson disclosed that she has been unlucky in romantic relationships with Ghanaian men.

    She added that she had several men she genuinely liked, but they didn’t think she liked them, hence their relationship failed.

    Nelson said; “Finding love in this country is quite difficult. Ghanaian men don’t love me, I’ve met a couple of people that I liked they didn’t even believe that I liked them.”

    The mother of one also said that she hasn’t had any intercourse in the last two years because she knows how to restrain herself.

    “After a year I went straight without it. I can control myself when it comes to that. I don’t have a love interest even though I wish I did,” she revealed.

    After the host of the show, Fiifi Pratt, pushed her to clarify the assertions, she said “if Ghanaians are not interested in me what else do you expect.”

  • Christians do not love God [1] – By Femi Aribisala

    Christians do not love God [1] – By Femi Aribisala

    “Christians do not seem to know that God is someone to be enjoyed”.

    The first and great commandment enjoins us to: “love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.” (Matthew 22:37).

    However, Christians seem largely unable to do this. The first commandment is expressed in tautological terms. The love that God requires permits no other love. But we love so many other things apart from God. These other loves compete with the love of God in our hearts.

    Jesus asks Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). If we were to love anything else, it must be through and because of our love for God.

    Loving Jesus: hating others

    The Christian faith is very personal. Jesus says: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37).

    Elsewhere, He goes even further, saying: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26).

    We are not called to observe the rites of religion. We are not required to obey some rules and regulations. We are called to have a personal and intimate relationship with God.

    John expresses it in this manner: “We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too.” (1 John 1:3-4).

    However, Christians do not seem to know that God is someone to be enjoyed. Our Father in heaven is the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17). Yes, we worship God, we praise Him, and we pray to Him. But we do not enjoy Him. God is not a friend to most of us.

    A hard man

    For many, God is a hard taskmaster who is to be feared. One man says to God in one of Jesus’ parables: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.” (Matthew 25:24).

    We say to God: “Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?” (Job 21:14-15).

    We see spending time with God as a chore. We struggle with it. We avoid it as much as possible. David says: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1).

    But going to church is something we do out of obligation and not with gladness. A lot of the time, we look for some excuse to avoid it altogether. Prayer meetings are a No-No. They must drag us to attend those. And when we go to vigils, like Peter in Gethsemane, we sleep under the anointing.

    “Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.” (Micah 6:2-3).

    “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32).

    However, we do not see God as an ornament, or as a pearl of inestimable value for which we sell all that we have to acquire it.

    Distracted worship

    When we pray to God, our mind does not stay on Him. We are distracted by all kinds of things. As we are praying, we are thinking of cooking dinner. Or we are anticipating the football match coming up the next day. If the telephone rings, we interrupt the prayer and keep God waiting while we answer the call.

    Then there is the issue of fasting. We see this as a burden we sometimes must endure when we desperately want something from God. Otherwise, fasting is out of the question. We do not fast just because we want to be nearer to God. When we fast, we continue doing as we please.

    We fast because our understanding is that the relationship with God always requires a sacrifice. But a sacrifice is not something we give willingly. Sacrifices are things we give grudgingly. Sacrifices deny us of something we want: food, money, or leisure. Sacrifices are exacting and burdensome.

    At the end, we ask God: “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?” (Isaiah 58:3).

    When our petitions are not answered, some even reach the conclusion that: “It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts?” (Malachi 3:14).

    Mercy, not sacrifice

    But God is not interested in our sacrifices. He says again and again: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6).

    “‘Why this frenzy of sacrifices?’ God’s asking. ‘Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams, and plump grain-fed calves? Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats? When you come before me, who ever gave you the idea of acting like this, running here and there, doing this and that — all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?”

    “Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings — meetings, meetings, meetings — I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening.” (Isaiah 1:11-15).

    God wants us to love Him. He wants to speak to us face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:11). But very few of us see ourselves as friends of God. He is too serious and austere for us.

    We would never joke with God. We cannot imagine Him smiling at us.

    When we want to relax, we do not go to God. When we want to have fun, we do not go to Him. Instead, we visit our buddies, we go to the cinema, or watch television, or surf the internet. We only go to God when we want something or need something. Or we go to God when we want to be religious.

    Jesus warns that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and make us unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22). Earthly wealth prevents us from enjoying God. When we lay up wealth and riches for ourselves, we rejoice in our possessions, like: “The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.” (Isaiah 43:14).

    CONTINUED

  • One reason why I love Annie Idibia – 2Baba confesses

    One reason why I love Annie Idibia – 2Baba confesses

    Innocent Ujah Idibia, known by his stage name 2Baba has opened up on one of the reasons why he loves his wife, Annie.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports 2Baba as saying his Annie’s trait of not being two-faced is one reason he loves her.

    The couple is part of the trending reality TV show, Young, Famous and African, which chronicled the lives of some celebrities on the continent.

    As reactions continue to trail the recent trend between 2Baba and Annie, the award-winning Nigerian musician took to his Instagram Story to declare the reason for loving Annie.

    “I’ve never been a fan of all this reality TV thingy but I must ask or rather point out the fact that whatever Annie felt she said it straight up to whoever.

    “She never laughed with anybody and said different behind. That’s one of the many reasons I love this African Queen,” 2Baba said.

  • I love my wife more than my mother – Toyin Abraham’s husband

    I love my wife more than my mother – Toyin Abraham’s husband

    Nollywood actor, Kolawale Ajeyemi has revealed that he loves his Nollywood wife, Toyin Abraham more than he loves his mother.

    Ajeyemi made this known while speaking during an interview session, which he shared on his YouTube Channel.

    He noted that being married to a good wife would lead to progress for a man, adding that after his wife, he loves his children more before his mother.

    “My wife is the one thing I love the most, though I also love my kids and my mother.

    “Aside from God, my wife makes me happy. If one has a good wife or husband, the person does not know how much God has blessed one.

    “If one gets married to someone that is not meant for one, there are bound to be problems.

    “That does not mean me and my wife don’t have disagreements. No relationship is perfect.

    “The individuals involved just learn to tolerate one another. If one gets married to a good wife, one would make progress in life”.

    Ajeyemi, however, went on praying for those who seek good women in their lives.

    “May God help those looking for life partners to choose right. People say a wife must not be richer than her husband but if God has destined one person to be richer than the other, one is good to go.

    “The most important thing is that they support each other. Having love for one another is the most important thing.

    “Our leaders would treat us better if they love us. The Bible says, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’,” he said.

  • I sacrificed my sense for love – BBNaija star, Vee

    I sacrificed my sense for love – BBNaija star, Vee

    Former Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) housemate, Vee has generated reactions from netizens after opening up about herself and her relationship on social media.

    The reality TV star who has purportedly left her relationship with ex-housemate and model, Neo Akpofure for unclear reasons and has not been seen with him in a long time, was asked to give the most significant thing she has ever had to give up for love.

    Responding, the reality TV personality and singer disclosed that she has sacrificed her sense for love.

    Netizens have reacted to her claim in a variety of ways, with some chastising her for disclosing her failed relationship in public.

    Some reactions gathered;

    andyagbaraji: “She has been the one saying things since,, are you sure she wasn’t the problem??”

    mzyoyo: “You make comments like this then when people ask you questions you will say it’s not our business ??? OK na”

    msadahesther: “I love her. Neo only wanted to use her to get green card. Neo that can lie for Africa and dude talks too much”

    @officialcynthiamitana: “Lols, she for just keep quiet. If a Man should insult* you back e dey pain o. No allow that guy talk abt u anyhow. And beside he knackd u well sote ur sense comot???I don’t mean to be rude. Byeee byeee?”

  • 2021 was a year of mixed feelings, ranging from love to betrayal – Tonto Dikeh

    2021 was a year of mixed feelings, ranging from love to betrayal – Tonto Dikeh

    Nollywood star, Tonto Dikeh, on Wednesday, noted that 2021 was a year of mixed feelings ranging love to betrayal for her.

    The actress took to her Instagram to give a recap of the outgoing year as she hoped for the better in 2022.

    She wrote, “2021 was a great roller coaster and a beautiful ride. 2021 has been a flight and a fight! 2021 though has been a happy year(quite conflicting but accurate)!

    “2021 was financially a great year but felt like an unproductive year! 2021, I learnt to lose myself and find myself all in one!

    “2021 was a year of love, betrayal, great friendship, good business, broke my own rules, hurts and so many lessons in between. 2021 was bravery in a soul for me.”

    Expressing hope for the incoming year, the mother-of-one wrote, “2022 shall be even greater and better; we keep winning.”

    Tonto Dikeh was involved in quite a number of controversies in 2021.

  • Teenage chorister and I were in love- Abeokuta pastor accused of raping 16-year-old declares

    Teenage chorister and I were in love- Abeokuta pastor accused of raping 16-year-old declares

    A cleric, Pastor Peter Taiwo of Christ Apostolic Bible Church, Alaja Oke, Saje, Abeokuta, who is currently in police custody for allegedly defiling a teenage chorister in the church, has claimed that he and the girl were in love.

    Taiwo’s wife Elizabeth who is also with the police is accused of aiding her husband in the act.

    The preacher told BBC Pidgin in a report published on Thursday that he and the girl “fell in love with each other,” adding that he told her to leave her boyfriend and ask him for whatever she needed.

    He also alleged that when the girl got hurt on the leg he assisted her parents to seek medical attention for her.

    According to him, his kind gesture drew him closer to her and she began entering his bedroom to talk with him.

    “She used to enter my bedroom and we would talk and chat together. One day, when she came in the morning for the treatment of the leg, I called her inside to see how the treatment was going, I don’t know the spirit that entered me when I was trying to check the leg.

    “From that day, she began to send me I love you message and I would reply her. I still have the message on my phone,” he said.

    Taiwo said he told his wife he had sex with the girl and asked her to help him beg the girl for forgiveness.

    His wife, who is the church’s choir mistress, said she was not aware her husband was taking advantage of the girl.

    She said they have been married for about 15 years with three children, adding that her husband was a bricklayer until he began pastoral work five years ago.

    “Three weeks ago on Wednesday, my husband asked me to help call her so he could send her on an errand. But when I noticed she had been with him for too long I went inside but to my surprise, I saw blood stain on our bed and the girl crying. That was when I realised my husband had defiled her. I shouted and cried and wanted to raise alarm but my husband begged me not to expose the girl,” she said.