Worry is like a chisel that chips away at our faith in God, and takes away our focus on Him (Matthew 6:25-34)

A good life is a phrase many people chase, yet few truly understand. To some, it means wealth, comfort, or recognition. But Scripture paints a very different picture. A good life is not measured by what a man has, but by who he is before God.
In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” This statement cuts across human ambition. The world says gather more, achieve more, become more. But Christ says life is deeper than that. A good life is rooted in a right relationship with God, expressed through righteousness, contentment, and love.
Consider the story of a farmer who worked tirelessly year after year. His land produced abundantly, and soon he had more grain than he could store. One day, he sat down and said to himself, “I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I will relax, eat, drink, and enjoy life.” That night, however, he died. All his plans, all his wealth, all his confidence vanished in a moment. Jesus concluded that story by saying that such a man is not rich toward God.
Now imagine another man in the same village. He had far less, but he feared God, helped his neighbors, and lived with a quiet trust in the Lord. He did not have barns full of grain, but he had a heart full of peace. When his time came, he left this world with the approval of God. Between these two men, only one truly lived a good life.
The good life, therefore, is a life of godliness and contentment. As 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” It is a life that seeks first the kingdom of God, trusting Him for daily needs. It is a life that values character above possessions, obedience above applause, and eternity above temporary pleasure.
This does not mean that material things are evil, but they must never become the foundation of our lives. A good life is built on Christ. It is seen in a heart that loves God, hands that serve others, and a life that reflects truth and righteousness.
In the end, the question is not how much we have gathered, but how well we have lived before God. A good life is one that pleases Him, and that is the only life that truly lasts.

Blameless
Text: Luke 1:6
“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
There is a common misunderstanding among believers that to be blameless means to be perfect, to never make mistakes, never fall, never struggle. But Scripture presents a different picture. To be blameless is not to live without fault, but to live with integrity, sincerity, and consistency before God.
Consider the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth. The Bible describes them as righteous and blameless, yet we later see Zacharias struggle with doubt when the angel announced the birth of John. This tells us something important: blameless people are not flawless people. They are people whose lives are aligned with God, even when they are not without weakness.
Imagine a white garment worn daily. Over time, it may gather dust or stains, but a careful owner does not ignore the dirt. He washes it, maintains it, and keeps it presentable. That garment may not be brand new every day, but it remains clean and well-kept. That is what it means to be blameless before God.
A blameless life is one that:
• Walks in obedience, not occasionally but consistently
• Responds to sin with repentance, not excuses
• Seeks to please God, not impress people
It is a life where no one can point to a pattern of wrongdoing and say, “This person lives in compromise.” Instead, even when faults appear, they are quickly corrected.
In a world where compromise is common and standards are lowering, God still calls His people to live above reproach. Not perfect, but genuine. Not flawless, but faithful.
The challenge for us today is simple but searching:
Are we living lives that are blameless before God, or are we comfortable with hidden compromises?
Blamelessness is not about never falling. It is about never settling in sin. It is about a heart that continually returns to God, a life that strives daily to walk in His ways.
May our lives, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, be marked by a quiet but powerful testimony:
faithful, consistent, and blameless before God.

An encouragement for the one looking up to Jehovah (Psalm 145:18)

When God comes through for us, we should act like the man at the Beautiful Gate and cling on (Acts 3:11)

Entering into eternal life and receiving the crown that awaits us requires self-discipline (1 Cor. 9:25)

Searching the scripture means that we will do what God wants us to do in its entirety (John 5:39-40)

Blessed be the name of the Lord who has forgiven us, and gives us the hope of heaven (Isaiah 53:5)

HE CARES FOR YOU
Luke 12.7

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Beloved, there is a quiet question that echoes in the hearts of many today: “Does God really care about me?” Not in theory… not in doctrine… but in the reality of daily struggles, silent tears, and unseen battles. And into that question, our Lord speaks with tender authority in Luke 12.7:

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”


You see, Jesus uses the sparrow to teach us something profound. Sparrows were among the cheapest birds sold in the market; almost worthless in human estimation. Yet not one of them falls to the ground without God’s awareness. If God pays attention to something so seemingly insignificant, how much more are you my friend that He created in His own image?

Sometimes life has a way of making us feel forgotten. Our prayers seem unanswered. And the weight/pressure of responsibility grows heavier. And then, anxiety creeps in like a thief in the night. But here is a consolation: your situation has never escaped God’s notice. Because your pain is not proof of His absence. He is still working things out for you so, be of good cheer.

I need you to think about Hagar in the wilderness; she was alone, frustrated, and broken. Yet the Bible recorded her expression of hope restored when she exclaimed “El-Roi!” THE GOD WHO SEES. Also think about David who marveled at the height of The Father’s care when he said; “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” These passages of the Bible should leave us with no better comfort knowing that God is mindful of us.

Despite all of these, many of us still find ourselves grappling with the reality of God’s promises concerning our lives. We perhaps, think that these promises are just too big for God to fulfill in our lives. In essence, we are not worthy of them. But Luke 12.7 corrects that thinking as he reveals a God who is sovereign and sensitive about our well-being.

Why then should you be anxious about your life?
Did He take care of you in January? What about February, March? In April, why do you think He has abandoned you? If God can feed, shelter, and care for the sparrows, how much more you who is more than valuable to Him?

Dear friends, you cannot trust in God and still be worried concerning the things you cannot help yourself with. Why not release your anxieties to Him and rest on His breast (Matthew 11.28-30) and as the Bible says in 1 Peter 5.7, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you”. I need you to know that this is more than a promise, it is a command.

Let me close with this: If God knows the number of hairs on your head, then there is nothing about your life that is beyond His concern. Nothing is too broken, too small, or too complicated for Him. As the song says, “Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge, take it to the LORD in prayer”. Amen!

STANDING IN THE GAP

“So, I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one”. Ezekiel 22.30

Oghenevwede A. Ubiuku, Minister
@COC Gura-Topp Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State

WELCOME: We live in a society today where immorality is applauded and morality disdained. It is no longer surprising that our days can now be likened to the sinful days of Sodom and Gomorrah. The wickedness has risen above the heavens.
Historical background of the text: during the days of the prophet Ezekiel, God’s judgment was against the nation because the corruption cut across every facet of their lives; from the priest to the prophets who tell lies, the leaders who are corrupt and hands stained with blood, the people were completely immoral beyond recognition.
So God's next action was to bring this nation to ruin, but He needed to see if someone would stand in the gap to intercede for the people, but He found none at that time.
Definition: for there to be a gap, it means there is something lacking. There is a breach, or crack, or loophole. Standing in the gap means stepping into a task no one would want to take up. It could also mean interceding. Like taking the position of an intercessor or a watchman.
Our days are not different from that of Ezekiel. We see religious corruption, political dishonesty, and moral decline in our society. God searches for someone to breach the gap shows God’s interest in saving the soul of man (2 Peter 3.9).
How are gaps created?
1. By broken trust.
2. By unfaithfulness (23).
3. By the hardening of the heart (Deuteronomy 30.19; Joshua 24.15). Hardening of hearts are self-inflicted and accountable.
4. Disobedience (1 Samuel 15.1-29; Isaiah 48.12-13).
How can we breach these gaps?
1. By prayers (James 5.14-18).
2. By intercession (1 Timothy 2.1-4).
3. By warning humanity of God’s impending wrath against all unrighteousness (Isaiah 21.6-8; Ezekiel 3.17; 33.7; Acts 20.31; 1 Thessalonians 5.14).
4. By sound teaching and correction in love (1 Timothy 1.10; 2 Timothy 3.15; Titus 1.9; Ephesians 4.15).
Who are we to stand in the gap for?
1. The weak brethren – Galatians 6.1; 1 Thessalonians 5.14
2. The married, unmarried, and divorced
3. Our children, youth, and elderly ones. Even our unsaved friends.
4. Religious and political leaders
Why do we need to stand in the gap?
Because God desires all men to be saved, not willing that any should perish – 1 Timothy 2.4; Titus 2.11-12; 2 Peter 3.9
Because God desires all men to live a holy life – 1 Peter 1.16
Because God desires all men to live in peace – 1 Timothy 2.3
Conclusion: while the world is derailing into more chaos of unrighteousness, God has not given up on Man’s salvation. To this end, Christ died that any who believe shall be saved (John 19.37; Mark 16.15-16). God is still searching for an intercessor like Ezekiel, will you rise up this moment and say like Isaiah:
“Also, I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me”. Isaiah 6.8
May the LORD help us to be ready for His use at all times in Christ name, amen.

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