Olusegun Ariyo
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has reminded Nigerians, particularly legal practitioners, that human life and accomplishments are sustained solely by the mercy of God rather than personal intelligence or effort.
Speaking on Sunday at the September Thanksgiving and Prayer Service themed ‘Divine Mercy’ at the RCCG national headquarters, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta, Adeboye emphasised that being alive is itself proof of God’s mercy.
“The fact that we are still alive today is a mercy of God. When you consider the various ways a fellow could die, you will know that you are alive not because you are clever but because of the Lord’s mercy,” he said.
To illustrate, he shared a testimony from his university days when, despite being a mathematics tutor and preparing thoroughly for an examination, he suddenly went blank after reading all eight questions.
“I was about to leave the hall when a certain hand kept me seated. Suddenly, the solutions became clear. I answered all eight questions and asked the examiner to mark any five. That was God’s mercy,” Adeboye recalled.
The cleric, however, stressed that God’s mercy is conditional. Quoting scripture, he said: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
He warned that those who refuse to show mercy risk serious consequences.
“There is trouble for the unmerciful. The result can be destruction without remedy. God’s patience is not endless; there comes a time when He says Enough is enough,” he cautioned.
Addressing journalists after the service, Pastor Dele Balogun, Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration, urged legal professionals to uphold fairness and equity in their practice.
“If we want justice in this nation, they have a critical role to play,” Balogun said, noting that the church continually prays for and anoints professionals in various sectors to remind them to serve with the fear of God.
He further disclosed that over 2,000 needy individuals received rice during the service, stressing that mercy must reflect in both spiritual and practical deeds.
“You cannot seek God’s mercy and at the same time engage in kidnapping, corruption, murder, or theft,” he added.
The Thanksgiving service drew several prominent legal figures, including the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu; Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara; Justice Ladiran Akintola and his wife, Prof. Simisola Akintola.
Others include Justice Oluyinka Gbajabiamila, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Ogun State Attorney-General, Oluwemimo Ogunde, SAN; and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN.
