🎙️ ON THE LORD'S SIDE (OTLS) — Christian perspectives on news and current events.
June 26, 2026 - Three stories this morning:
🔹 A few seconds of earthquake have flattened high-rise buildings in Venezuela
🔹 Nigeria's First Lady is proudly handing poor citizens grants to start roadside akara and roasted-corn stalls.
🔹 A retired broadcaster was murdered by a man who once guarded her gate, who reportedly confessed he did it "to teach her a lesson."
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"Only ye shall not go very far away."
Exodus 8:28 (NKJV)
June 26 Devotion - Th is a cunning word from the lips of that arch-tyrant, Pharaoh. If the poor enslaved Israelites simply must leave Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away—not far enough for them to slip beyond the reach of his armies or the watch of his spies.
The world treats us in just the same way. It does not love the nonconformity of the nonconformist or the dissent of the dissenter; it would have us be more agreeable and not handle things with too firm a hand. Death to the world and burial with Christ are experiences that worldly minds meet with mockery, and so the ordinance that pictures them is almost everywhere neglected and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise and talks about "moderation." According to this fleshly thinking, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are cautioned against being too strict; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be sharply denounced. "Yes," says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but don't deny yourself a little lively company, an occasional ball, and a Christmas trip to the theater. What's the use of running a thing down when it's so fashionable, and everybody does it?" Crowds of professing Christians give in to this sly advice, to their own eternal ruin.
If we would follow the Lord completely, we must go right out into the wilderness of separation and leave the Egypt of the worldly life behind us. We must leave its principles, its pleasures, and its religion too, and travel far away to the place where the Lord calls his set-apart ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is loose, a man cannot be too far from where it lurks. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet call ring out, "Come out from among them and be separate."
*PILGRIM'S LIGHT DEVOTIONAL*
(Adapted from 'Morning and Evening Daily Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon'
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*"Looking unto Jesus."*
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
June 28 Devotion - It is always the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from ourselves and toward Jesus; but Satan's work is exactly the opposite, for he is forever trying to make us focus on ourselves instead of Christ. He whispers, "Your sins are too great to be pardoned; you have no faith; you don't repent enough; you'll never manage to hold on to the end; you don't have the joy his children have; your grip on Jesus is so shaky." Every one of these is a thought about self, and we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes completely away from self; he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all."
Remember, then, it is not your hold on Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not even your faith in Christ, though that is the instrument—it is Christ's blood and merits. So do not look so much at the hand with which you are grasping Christ as at Christ himself; do not look to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope; do not look to your faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our deeds, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.
If we would overcome Satan at once and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep your eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession stay fresh in your mind. When you wake in the morning, look to him; when you lie down at night, look to him. Oh, do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; press hard after him, and he will never fail you.
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name."
PILGRIM'S LIGHT DEVOTIONAL*
(Adapted from 'Morning and Evening Daily Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon'
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🎙️ ON THE LORD'S SIDE (OTLS) — Christian perspectives on news and current events.
June 25, 2026 - Three stories this morning:
🔹 Nearly six years after a young reporter vanished covering #EndSARS, DNA has finally identified his body — and reopened a wound the nation never closed.
🔹 One of the world's richest, most influential churches is quietly selling its New York headquarters, its pews emptier each decade despite moving with the times.
🔹 A celebrated senior advocate is stripped of his rank before his trial has even ended — raising a question every accused person should fear.
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🎙️ *ON THE LORD'S SIDE* (OTLS) — _Christian perspectives on news and current events_ .
June 18, 2026 - Two stories this morning:
🔹 The government has gifted mansions to Court of Appeal judges, calling it "welfare support." Unpacking the constitutional, economic, and biblical questions arising.
🔹 A security expert alleges Nigeria spent millions of dollars to "influence" Trump and deny the Christian genocide in Nigeria. How many of the "opinions" we scroll past each day were quietly paid for?
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Dickson, Obi, Kwankwaso have a historic opportunity not because they are special but because providence may have decided to grease the machine of Nigeria’s democracy through their partnership. They have a duty to posterity to keep their eyes on the ball. This is how men are made
God is notorious for forgiveness and delights in mercy.
His goodness defeats the worst of evils.
His love triumphs over the vilest of sins.
No other god is renowned for such redeeming compassion.
Coping with the systematic collapse of our institutions.
When the controversy surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. "The federal High Court Judgement ordering the de-registration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man's trust in our legal systems" it should be reversed.
I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the Judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all.
To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country!
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
One of the things that messed the Judiciary up in this nation was the forceful removal of Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria by Buhari's administration.
Since Justice Onnoghen was forcefully removed, the Judiciary has never truly recovered from the shock.
Many judges never imagined that such a thing was possible until it happened before their very eyes.
Before Justice Walter Onnoghen was removed, judges were more confident in carrying out their duties without fear of intimidation from political actors.
It was so because, although the Constitution of Nigeria never expressly granted judges immunity from political intimidation whenever they delivered judgments that did not align with the interests of the political class.
But somehow, they found a way to create that protection for themselves.
It all started when the Kwara State House of Assembly woke up on the morning of May 4, 2009, dressed in their best attires and headed straight to their hallowed chamber.
What was their mission that day?
It was to remove Justice Raliat Erelu Habeeb as the Chief Judge of Kwara State.
On whose orders were they acting?
They were acting on the instructions of Bukola Saraki, the then Governor of Kwara State, who had accused Justice Raliat of misconduct.
Acting under Section 292 of the Constitution, the House passed a resolution removing her as Chief Judge of the state.
Dr. Bukola Saraki, as Governor, did not even allow the ink on the resolution to dry before signing her removal into effect.
After all, it was his plan from the beginning.
But Justice Raliat refused to surrender.
She pursued her case all the way to the Supreme Court.
Her argument was very simple.
She acknowledged that Section 292 of the Constitution gave the Governor and the House of Assembly powers relating to the removal or suspension of a judge in cases of misconduct.
However, she argued that Nigeria already had a federal body specifically created to deal with judicial misconduct which is the National Judicial Council (NJC).
According to her, any allegation of misconduct against a judge must first be investigated by the NJC. Only after the NJC has investigated and recommended removal can a Governor or President lawfully act.
She reminded the Supreme Court of its earlier position in Nganjiwa v FRN, where the same principle was upheld.
Fortunately for her, the Supreme Court agreed.
The apex court reaffirmed that neither a State Governor nor a State House of Assembly can unilaterally remove a Chief Judge without first obtaining a formal recommendation from the National Judicial Council. It held that the NJC must always be the first port of call whenever allegations are made against a judicial officer.
As a result, Justice Raliat was reinstated.
From that moment, the political class learnt a valuable lesson.
They learnt how to respect judges and the Judiciary.
Then came the case of Justice Walter Onnoghen.
On April 18, 2019, Buhari woke up and suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria on allegations that he had improperly declared his assets.
The Judiciary watched.
Judges watched.
They watched as their number one judicial officer was publicly humiliated and pushed out of office.
Yet, nothing happened.
Malami, who was the Attorney General at the time, knew how dangerous and improper it was to expose a sitting Chief Justice of Nigeria to the intimidation of political actors. He knew the implications.
Yet he encouraged it.
He even dragged Justice Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Bureau without any recommendation from the National Judicial Council.
Justice Danladi Umar, who hurriedly tried and convicted him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, also knew the implications. He knew it was improper to subject a judicial officer to disciplinary proceedings without first passing through the NJC.
Yet he willingly offered himself as a tool.
In the end, Justice Walter Onnoghen was humiliated, tried, convicted and removed, while the .
*"We live to the Lord.”*
— Romans 14:8 (NKJV)
June 10 Morning Devotion - If God had chosen to do so, each of us could have entered heaven the very moment we were converted. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for eternity that we remain here on earth. A person can be taken to heaven immediately after believing in Jesus and be made fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
It is true that sanctification is usually a gradual process, and that we will not be made perfect until we leave this body and enter the presence of the Lord. Nevertheless, had God willed it, He could have transformed us from imperfection to perfection instantly and taken us to heaven at once.
Why, then, are we still here? Would God keep His children out of paradise for even a moment longer than necessary? Why does the army of the living God remain on the battlefield when a single command from Him could bring final victory? Why do His children continue their journey through this world when one word from His lips could bring them into the fullness of their heavenly hope?
The answer is that we are here to “live to the Lord” and to lead others to know His love.
We remain on earth as sowers, scattering good seed; as plowmen, breaking up hard ground; and as heralds, proclaiming the message of salvation. We are here as “the salt of the earth,” bringing blessing to the world around us. We are here to glorify Christ through our daily lives. We are here as workers for Him and as “workers together with Him.”
Let us make sure that our lives fulfill this purpose. Let us live earnest, useful, and holy lives, “to the praise of the glory of His grace.”
At the same time, we long to be with Him and daily echo these words:
“My heart is with Him on His throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up, and come away.’”
PILGRIM'S LIGHT EVENING DEVOTIONAL*
(Culled from the writings of Charles Hadden Spurgeon)
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“Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
— Revelation 22:17 (NKJV)
June 12 Evening Devotion - Jesus says, “take freely.” He requires no payment and no preparation. He does not ask for a recommendation based on our good feelings or moral achievements. If you have no good feelings at all, but are willing to come, then you are invited. Therefore, come!
Perhaps you have no faith and no repentance. Come to Him, and He will give them to you. Come exactly as you are and receive freely, “without money and without price.” He gives Himself to those who know they are needy.
The public drinking fountains found on street corners are valuable provisions. It would seem absurd for a thirsty person standing before such a fountain to search his pockets and say, “I cannot drink because I do not have five pounds with me.” No matter how poor he may be, the water is there, and he may drink freely.
As thirsty travelers pass by, whether dressed in simple work clothes or fine garments, they do not look for permission to drink. The very presence of the fountain is their invitation. Generous benefactors have provided the refreshing water, and people simply come and drink without hesitation.
Perhaps the only people who might remain thirsty on a street where a fountain is freely available are those who are too proud to use it. They pass by in their carriages, thirsty but unwilling to stoop so low as to drink from a public fountain. They think it beneath their dignity, and so they continue on with dry lips.
How many people act the same way regarding salvation! They are rich in their own good works and therefore refuse to come to Christ. They say, “I will not be saved in the same way as the immoral person or the profane sinner.” What? Enter heaven by the same path as a common laborer? Is there no road to glory except the one that brought the repentant thief there? “Then I will not come,” they say.
Such proud hearts remain without the living water. But God’s invitation still stands:
“Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
The qualification is not merit, morality, wealth, education, or religious achievement. The invitation is simply this: Are you willing? If so, come and drink. Freely.
“Delight yourself also in the Lord.”
— Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
June 13 Devotion - The teaching of these words may seem surprising to those who are strangers to genuine godliness, but to the sincere believer they simply reaffirm a well-known truth. The believer’s life is described here as a delight in God, reminding us that true religion is filled with happiness and joy.
Ungodly people and mere religious formalists rarely think of religion as something joyful. To them it is a duty, an obligation, or a necessity—but never a delight. If they practice religion at all, it is often either for personal gain or because they feel they have no choice. The idea of finding pleasure in holiness seems so strange to many people that few words appear more unrelated than “holiness” and “delight.”
But those who truly know Jesus Christ understand that faith and delight are inseparably joined. The gates of hell cannot separate what God has united. Those who love God with all their hearts discover that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
The saints find such joy, such overflowing delight, and such abundant blessedness in their Lord that they would follow Him even if the entire world rejected and despised His name. They do not serve Him merely out of habit or obligation.
We do not fear God because we are compelled to do so. Our faith is not a chain, and our profession is not a burden. We are not dragged into holiness or driven reluctantly to duty. Rather, our devotion is our delight, our hope is our happiness, and our obedience is our joy.
Delight and true religion belong together as naturally as root and flower. They are as inseparable as truth and certainty. They are like two precious jewels shining side by side in a setting of gold.
“’Tis when we taste Thy love,
Our joys divinely grow,
Unspeakable like those above,
And heaven begins below.”
PILGRIM'S LIGHT DEVOTIONAL
(Culled from the writings of Charles Hadden Spurgeon)
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Il faut avoir l'honnêteté de reconnaître le coup de génie de la gauche, parce que c'en est un. Le plus grand hold-up rhétorique du siècle tient en un seul mot : raciste.
Voici le mécanisme.
Après 1945, après les droits civiques, l'Occident a fait du racisme le mal absolu. À juste titre : c'est une de ses plus grandes conquêtes morales. « Raciste » est devenu le mot le plus radioactif de la langue, l'excommunication moderne, la mort sociale instantanée.
Le coup de génie a été de détourner ce capital moral. Pas pour protéger des personnes : pour protéger une idéologie.
L'égalitarisme des résultats ne gagne jamais un débat sur les faits. Il produit l'inverse de ce qu'il promet, partout, à chaque fois. Alors plutôt que de gagner le débat, on a rendu le débat impayable. Tu questionnes les résultats de l'immigration sans assimilation ? Raciste. Tu défends le mérite ? Raciste. Les maths avancées ? Racistes. Les frontières ? Racistes. Le mot a cessé de décrire un comportement pour décrire une position sur l'échiquier.
Et regardez la beauté technique du dispositif. Pas besoin d'arguments : l'accusation suffit. Pas besoin de procès : la dénégation aggrave le cas (votre défensivité prouve votre culpabilité). Pas besoin de police : la peur fait le travail, chacun se surveille lui-même et surveille son voisin gratuitement. Il suffit d'exécuter publiquement quelques exemples par an pour tenir des millions de gens. Une idéologie irréfutable, protégée par un mot imprononçable. Les deux pare-feux du même système : la French Theory avait aboli la vérité, l'accusation a aboli le débat.
Est-ce qu'un comité s'est réuni pour concevoir ça ? Pas besoin. Les idées subissent une sélection darwinienne : celles qui survivent sont celles qui se défendent le mieux. Marcuse avait quand même déposé le brevet dès 1965, noir sur blanc : tolérance pour les mouvements de gauche, intolérance pour ceux de droite. Le reste a évolué tout seul. Il faut l'avouer : c'était génial.
Mais ce dispositif génial avait un coût, et le coût a un bilan. À Rotherham, le rapport officiel Jay a établi que des fonctionnaires britanniques ont laissé plus de 1 400 gamines se faire exploiter pendant seize ans, en partie par peur d'être traités de racistes s'ils nommaient les faits. Relisez cette phrase. Des enfants ont été sacrifiées à un mot. Voilà ce que veut dire idéologie mortifère : pas une métaphore, un bilan.
Et maintenant, regardez ce qui s'effondre sous nos yeux.
Une insulte ne fonctionne que si elle fait peur, et une monnaie ne fonctionne que si elle est rare. Ils ont imprimé le mot comme Weimar imprimait le mark. Quand tout est raciste, plus rien ne l'est. Résultat : des tweets qui commencent par « traitez-moi de raciste si vous voulez » récoltent des dizaines de milliers de likes et l'approbation de l'homme le plus riche du monde. Il y a dix ans, cette phrase était un suicide professionnel. Aujourd'hui, c'est un haussement d'épaules. L'hyperinflation a tué la monnaie.
Et voilà la vraie tragédie, que les faussaires devront porter : en imprimant le mot sans limite, ils l'ont brûlé pour tout le monde. Y compris pour nommer le vrai racisme quand il existe, car il existe. Les faux-monnayeurs ne détruisent pas que leur arme. Ils détruisent le mot dont une société honnête a besoin.
Privée de son mot magique, l'idéologie va maintenant devoir faire ce qu'elle n'a jamais su faire : gagner un débat sur les faits.
Elle ne le gagnera pas. Au travail.
*"We love Him because He first loved us.”*
— 1 John 4:19 (NKJV)
June 11 Devotion - There is no light in a planet except that which it receives from the sun; likewise, there is no true love for Jesus in the human heart except that which comes from the Lord Jesus Himself. From the overflowing fountain of God’s infinite love, all our love for Him must flow. This remains a great and certain truth: we love Him for no other reason than that He first loved us. Our love for Him is the beautiful result of His love for us.
Anyone may feel a measure of admiration when contemplating the works of God, but the warmth of genuine love can be kindled in the heart only by the Spirit of God. What a wonder it is that people such as we are should ever come to love Jesus at all! How marvelous that after we had rebelled against Him, He should seek to draw us back through such an astonishing display of love.
No, we would never have possessed even the smallest measure of love for God had He not first planted it within us through the gracious seed of His own love. Love, therefore, has its origin in the love of God poured out into the heart. Yet once this love is divinely born, it must also be divinely nourished.
Love is like an exotic plant; it does not naturally thrive in the soil of the human heart. It must be watered from above. Love for Jesus is a delicate flower, and if it depended solely on what could be drawn from our own hearts, it would quickly wither. As it comes from heaven, so it must be sustained by heavenly food. It cannot survive in the wilderness unless it is fed by manna from above. Love must feed upon love. The very life and strength of our love for God is found in His love for us.
“I love Thee, Lord, but with no love of mine,
For I have none to give;
I love Thee, Lord, but all the love is Thine,
For by Thy love I live.
I am as nothing, and rejoice to be
Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in Thee.”
PILGRIM'S LIGHT EVENING DEVOTIONAL*
(Culled from the writings of Charles Hadden Spurgeon)
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In this episode, we engage four stories through the lens of Scripture: That TikTok 'giveaway' by bandits in Nigeria, the 1Kg Semovita vote-buying video, and the son who wants the millions of the parents he killed!
https://t.co/ylhwZE22Ej
"We remain on earth as sowers, scattering good seed; as plowmen, breaking up hard ground; and as heralds, proclaiming the message of salvation. We are here as “the salt of the earth,” bringing blessing to the world around us. We are here to glorify Christ through our daily lives. We are here as workers for Him and as 'workers together with Him.'
Let us make sure that our lives fulfill this purpose."
*"We live to the Lord.”*
— Romans 14:8 (NKJV)
June 10 Morning Devotion - If God had chosen to do so, each of us could have entered heaven the very moment we were converted. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for eternity that we remain here on earth. A person can be taken to heaven immediately after believing in Jesus and be made fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
It is true that sanctification is usually a gradual process, and that we will not be made perfect until we leave this body and enter the presence of the Lord. Nevertheless, had God willed it, He could have transformed us from imperfection to perfection instantly and taken us to heaven at once.
Why, then, are we still here? Would God keep His children out of paradise for even a moment longer than necessary? Why does the army of the living God remain on the battlefield when a single command from Him could bring final victory? Why do His children continue their journey through this world when one word from His lips could bring them into the fullness of their heavenly hope?
The answer is that we are here to “live to the Lord” and to lead others to know His love.
We remain on earth as sowers, scattering good seed; as plowmen, breaking up hard ground; and as heralds, proclaiming the message of salvation. We are here as “the salt of the earth,” bringing blessing to the world around us. We are here to glorify Christ through our daily lives. We are here as workers for Him and as “workers together with Him.”
Let us make sure that our lives fulfill this purpose. Let us live earnest, useful, and holy lives, “to the praise of the glory of His grace.”
At the same time, we long to be with Him and daily echo these words:
“My heart is with Him on His throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up, and come away.’”
PILGRIM'S LIGHT EVENING DEVOTIONAL*
(Culled from the writings of Charles Hadden Spurgeon)
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When statistically impossible things happen, we should not be expected as a society to accept them. Evidence of fraud isn’t limited to video surveillance. Statistical impossibilities are hard evidence of fraud.