New Year: Be obedient to God, cleric urges Nigerians

NAN-H-33
Obedience
By David Adeoye
Ibadan, Jan. 1, 2017 (NAN) Rev. David Olagbaju, the Provost of  St James Cathedral Anglican Church, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, has urged Nigerians to be obedient to God so as to benefit from  the goodness of the New Year.

Olagbaju,  who stated this in his New Year Sermon  entitled,   “ Naming of Jesus Christ, ’’  said 2017 was a peculiar year full of favour and  blessings.

“The beginning of the first day of  the year falls on the first Sunday of the week, of the month and February this year has complete four Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,’’ he said.

The cleric said the peculiarity of  2017 was rare and Nigerians would enjoy extraordinary favour and blessings “if we obey the creator.’’

“The duty of human beings is to fear and obey their creator so that God could shower His blessing on His creatures,’’ he said.

Olagbaju decried lack of love among Nigerians,  saying individual failure to express love to one another was disobedience  to God.

“Some people would not be stealing billions, looting wealth meant for all Nigerians and perpetrating all sorts of crime if we love ourselves.

“How can you explain the rationale behind looting and pocketing of funds meant for the welfare of victims of war in IDP centres?

“People will not do such if we love our neighbours  as ourselves according to the directive of God and we should all thrive to obey the creator if the nation must prosper,’’  he stated.

The cleric further enjoined  Nigerians to be steadfast and abstain from actions that were inimical to the development of the country.

He also implored Nigerians to pray for the nation’s leaders so that God would continue to guide them and lead the country on the path of progress.

The News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of worshipers  attended the first Sunday Service in the New Year.(NAN)
DAK/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)