Text: 1 Kings 3:6-9

3:6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

3:7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 

3:8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.

3:9 Therefore give to Your servant an ^[a]understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

STUDY:

In life, many people misunderstand their responsibilities or tasks, and as such, fail to acquire relevant skills to help them execute such assignments. For us not to handle our life’s assignment with lack of seriousness, it is important that we understand our roles in God’s design. Solomon considered his office a privilege from God and saw it as a great kindness shown his father. He didn’t consider it a right or what he deserved. This was why he prayed to God, “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child” (v. 7). He also said that he did not know what to do; and on account of that, he sought the face of God. Solomon made this prayer when he realised that he was set over God’s chosen people; a great people that could not be numbered or counted for multitude.

We cannot afford to take lightly our responsibilities in life, particularly divine assignments and those relating to leadership. We need to see divine tasks with the eyes of the Lord; and that they demand our soul, our life and our all. This understanding will help us to treat men (even those we lead) with honour, and in the spirit of meekness. There is no assignment from the Lord that we can do on our own. We must draw grace and grace from Him. Anything short of this is a complete misunderstanding of that which we are called to do.

Prayer: 

Lord, grant me understanding of my life’s responsibility and give me all it takes to succeed.

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Text :Luke 15:11-32

15:11    Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 

15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

15:13  And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with ^[a]prodigal living.

15:14  But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 

15:15  Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15:16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the ^[b]pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

15:18    I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 

15:19  and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

15:20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 

15:21  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

15:22  “But the father said to his servants, ^[c]‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 

15:23  And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

15:24  for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

15:27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

15:28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 

15:29  So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends

15:30  But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

15:31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

15:32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

STUDY:

Grace means God’s undeserved favour and kindness towards people. It is unlimited when it has no limit or bound and extends to every human being on earth. The story from our text today brings to mind the value that our Lord Jesus Christ places on lost souls, and the extent of God’s grace and mercy, as well as the great joy for repentant souls. The young man in today’s passage enjoyed grace of restoration from his father, showing the depth of his father’s love for him.

The narrative is clear evidence that God’s grace is unlimited and His love immeasurable. The parable shows us that no matter how far we might have strayed from the Lord, we are never beyond the reach of His grace.
Beloved, God’s love for you is without limit: Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Even in your failures and mistakes, God is waiting to welcome you home. According to Luke 15:7, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Prayer: 

Lord, thank you for your boundless love and mercy. Help me to allow this same love to flow out of my life to others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Text: 1 Kings 2:36-46

2:36    Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. 

2:37   For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your ^[a]blood shall be on your own head.”

2:38 And Shimei said to the king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

2:39  Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are in Gath!”

2:40  So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 

2:41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.

2:42 Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.

2:43    Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the commandment that I gave you?” 

2:44 The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your wickedness on your own head.

2:45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.”

2:46  So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

STUDY:

An oath typically signifies a promise or commitment made in earnest – a bond meant to ensure honesty toward others or God. When Solomon became king, he gave a directive to Shimei – ‘Stay in Jerusalem or face death’ – a command that allowed Shimei to redeem himself while keeping him under watch. Shimei was initially a supporter of King Saul but turned against David during his flight from Absalom (2 Kings 16:5-14). Shimei’s decision to pursue his fleeing servants shows how easily one can succumb to personal desire over loyalty, and how individuals fail under pressure.

The concern here is how that Shimei did not remember the consequence of his action, which was a death penalty. The reason for this may be natural or divine; however, we have lessons to learn. First, we need to know that while we may have resolutions or plans, we do not have the power to execute them (Prov. 16:9; 19:21). The power belongs to God. Second, we always need to meditate before we act. We should learn to hold back ourselves and wait on the Lord so that we do not react without thinking. We must be slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19-20). Finally, it may appear that Shimei was divinely set up to die, as a result of past deeds. Let us know that the arm of justice is long enough to catch up with every evildoer, regardless of the time.

Prayer: 

Lord, show me mercy and give me power to keep the promises I make in your name.

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Atiku raised the concern in a post on X on Friday, describing the reports as disturbing and warning that worsening living costs were pushing vulnerable Nigerians towards desperate measures.

He said young Nigerians should be using their talents and ideas to build their futures rather than considering the sale of their body organs as a means of survival.

“Young people should be selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs,” Atiku said.

He attributed the reported trend to the severity of the cost-of-living crisis, arguing that unbearable economic conditions could make extreme measures appear to be viable options.

According to him, the rising cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity had made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to live with dignity.

Atiku claimed that some young Nigerians were reportedly being offered as much as N1.7 million for their kidneys, describing the situation as a reflection of the depth of economic desperation in the country.

He said young Nigerians should be focused on building careers, starting businesses, raising families and pursuing their aspirations rather than considering the sale of their organs.

Atiku acknowledged that Nigerian laws prohibit commercial organ sales and organ trafficking but argued that legislation alone would not address the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable people susceptible to exploitation.

He called for economic policies that prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, including access to affordable food, transportation, healthcare and decent employment.

“Economic reform must have a human face. It must mean affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and renewed hope for the next generation,” he said.

Atiku further criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that no reform should be considered successful if Nigerians are pushed into extreme measures to meet their basic needs.

His comments come amid recent reports and unverified claims concerning organ trafficking in parts of Nigeria, although the specific claims about people selling their kidneys for N1.7 million have not been independently established in the statement.

The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, dismissed claims that technical glitches affected the results, saying the council’s marking, processing and moderation procedures remained credible.

Dangut spoke on Thursday during a virtual dialogue organised by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria, themed “Addressing Concerns Over 2026 WASSCE Results, Other Matters.”

He urged schools, parents and other stakeholders with concerns about candidates’ results to approach WAEC directly for clarification rather than relying on unverified claims circulating on social media.

According to him, the council introduced several technological innovations in the conduct and processing of the examination, including computer based assessment, as well as the randomisation and serialisation of questions.

He said the reforms had helped reduce examination malpractice and strengthened the credibility and transparency of the examination process.

Dangut disclosed that examination malpractice declined from 9.97 per cent in 2025 to 8.59 per cent in 2026, describing the reduction as one of the positive outcomes of the reforms.

However, some schools and parents have questioned the 2026 results, particularly the low grades recorded by candidates in English Language and Mathematics.

The concerns arose after some schools said their students’ WASSCE performances were inconsistent with their previous academic records, mock examination results and achievements.

Some stakeholders consequently called on WAEC to review the results of candidates whose performances appeared significantly different from their established academic records.

Speaking during the dialogue, the Principal of Babcock School, Remo, Ogun State, Mr Fatola Samson, described the 2026 WASSCE results as the worst recorded by the school in its 31-year history.

Samson said 190 students from the school sat for the examination, but only 27 obtained satisfactory results, while several candidates failed subjects including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

The development has prompted calls for greater clarification from WAEC, particularly on concerns surrounding the processing of results and the performance of candidates whose grades differ sharply from their previous academic records.

WAEC, however, maintained that its examination procedures remained credible and urged stakeholders to seek official clarification on individual cases rather than rely on unverified reports.

Text: 1 Kings 2:28-35

2:28    Then news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

2:29  And King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord; there he is, by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.”

2:30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out!’ ” And he said, “No, but I will die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.”

2:31  Then the king said to him, “Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed.

2:32 So the Lord will return his ^[a]blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it. 

2:33   Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord.”

2:34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 

2:35   The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

STUDY:

When news reached Joab that Solomon has executed Adonijah, he perceived danger for himself because of his past loyalties and actions against David’s wishes (1 Kings 2:5-6). So, he fled to the altar seeking refuge, as his last hope for survival. However, this moment demonstrates that we cannot escape the consequences of our action simply because we seek physical refuge through sacred objects. Past choices will ultimately attract results, regardless of where we seek shelter. A life that is not governed by the testimonies (the two tablets of commandment) on the altar, cannot hope to hide under the shadow of the altar for safety. 2 Samuel 3:29 records that on hearing that Joab murdered Abner, David said: “Let it (the blood of Abner) rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

David was so pained about the ruthless activities of Joab that he placed a curse on him and his generation.
The story of Joab is similar to those of us who always shout ‘Jesus’ in the day of trouble. Yes, the name of the Lord is a strong tower, but it is only the righteous that run into it to find safety (Prov. 18:10). Let us also be careful not to incur the wrath of men whom the Lord is determined to honour.

Prayer: 

Lord, deliver me from the company of the wicked. Amen.

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CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to recent comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she invoked Jesus Christ while making a political argument about Peter Obi and the 2027 elections.

Okoh said although political discussions could become intense, Christians should exercise restraint when invoking the name of Christ in political debates.

He stressed that Jesus should not be turned into a political tool, campaign slogan or means of promoting one politician over another.

“I believe this is an appropriate moment to remind all of us, especially Christians, to exercise restraint in the way we invoke the name of Jesus Christ in political debates,” he said.

According to him, Nigerians have the right to support or criticise politicians, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, but political loyalty should not diminish the reverence due to Christ.

“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them. But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ,” Okoh said.

The CAN president urged political actors and their supporters to focus their campaigns on issues such as competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria.

“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels,” he said.

Okoh also cautioned Nigerians against portraying politicians as messianic figures, stressing that no political victory was worth compromising the honour associated with the name of Jesus Christ.

“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomises. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name,” he stated.

He urged politicians, their supporters and Nigerians to conduct political discussions responsibly and respectfully as the country approaches another electoral season.

Text:1 Kings 2:19-27

2:19   Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand

2:20 Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not ^[d]refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

2:21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”

2:22  And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”

2:23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life!

2:24  Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a ^[e]house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

2:25 So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.

2:26  And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for ^[f]you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.” 

2:27  So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, that he might fulfill the word of the Lord which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.

STUDY:

Abishag was the young woman who cared for and ministered to David in his old age, like a companion. In ancient Near Eastern culture, marrying a king’s concubine was not simply about love. It was an assertion of one’s claim to power and status (2 Sam. 16:21-22). It was one of the customs of that culture that the concubines of a sovereign descended to his successor. Adonijah’s request for Abishag was beyond mere romantic interest; it was an appeal to legitimacy and authority. Solomon’s sharp and yet decisive response to Adonijah’s request (v. 22) shows his awareness that this was manipulative; Adonijah was seeking to utilise this means to reclaim power. Solomon therefore pronounced a death sentence on Adonijah.

We have lessons to learn here from Adonijah, Bathsheba and Solomon. Having received pardon for his initial action of setting himself up for the throne (1 Kings 1:50-52), Adonijah needed not to have had an eye on the throne again. His death came from the desire for something temporal. Bathsheba, who was highly respected by her son, was used by the conspirators against the kingdom, thereby ‘misusing’ her position to facilitate an ‘unholy’ request. And for Solomon, he was discerning enough to see through the pretence of Adonijah and to know what he was aiming at. He was not naive in his assessment. We must be watchful.

Prayer: 

Lord, may I not be an instrument in the hands of conspirators. Help me to see through the pretenses of men.

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The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Aminu Mohammed, announced the release on Wednesday during a press conference in Benin, Edo State.

Mohammed said 79,503 candidates, representing 81.24 per cent of the 97,863 candidates graded, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

He said the result represented a significant improvement over the 68.18 per cent recorded in the 2025 examination, when 61,104 candidates achieved the same benchmark.

“The improvement recorded in the 2026 examination is encouraging and demonstrates the collective efforts of candidates, teachers, schools, parents and the wider education system,” he said.

The NABTEB boss added that 89,580 candidates, representing 91.53 per cent, obtained five credits and above, with or without English Language and Mathematics, compared with 83.28 per cent recorded in 2025.

He disclosed that 100,069 candidates registered for the 2026 examinations, while 97,867 sat for the papers, representing a 97.80 per cent attendance rate.

According to him, 24,128 candidates, representing 24.65 per cent of those graded, were certified as craftsmen.

Mohammed said the results were released 52 days after the final paper, describing the development as part of the board’s commitment to timely service delivery.

On examination malpractice, he disclosed that 847 candidates were involved in 1,554 reported incidents, representing 1.55 per cent of the candidates who sat for the examinations.

He said the figure was lower than that recorded in 2025, attributing the improvement to measures introduced by the board to curb malpractice.

Mohammed, however, warned candidates against falling victim to individuals claiming they could alter or upgrade examination results.

“No individual has the authority to change a candidate’s legitimately awarded result,” he said.

He advised candidates to check their results only through NABTEB’s official result-checking platform and urged them to disregard fraudulent offers to manipulate their results.

NAN

Hajduk Split expressed sadness over the death of Gudelj, describing him as one of the most prominent players of his generation and a true club legend.

Gudelj joined Hajduk as a youngster and spent his entire playing career with the club, making 362 appearances and scoring 93 goals for its youth and senior teams between 1976 and 1986.

He also represented the former Yugoslavia 33 times, scoring three goals, and became the national team captain at the age of 22.

Gudelj was part of Yugoslavia’s squad at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where he emerged as one of the team’s standout players. He also featured at the 1984 European Championship.

However, his promising career was brought to an abrupt end in 1986 after he was diagnosed with hepatitis B. He was preparing to move to French club Bordeaux at the time.

Following his playing career, Gudelj moved into coaching and briefly managed Hajduk Split. He also coached Croatia’s Under-17 and Under-19 national teams.

Hajduk said Gudelj’s contribution to the club and Yugoslav football had established him as one of the most respected figures in its history.

AFP