As Nigerians prepare to celebrate Christmas, a prominent cleric has urged citizens to prioritise love and kindness during the Yuletide period.
Pastor Kayode Aliyu of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Daki-Biyu District, Kubwa Branch, made the call on Sunday while delivering a sermon titled: “The Greatest Gift” at this year’s Nine Lessons and Christmas Carol Service in Abuja.
According to Pastor Aliyu, Christmas is a time for Nigerians to come together and demonstrate the values of love, compassion, and generosity.
“We are looking at the Love of God expressed at Christmas. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. God’s love is not a relationship of give and take. He only wants a relationship between father and son.
“Jesus Christ gave us two instructions: love your God with everything you have and love your neighbours as yourself. If you don’t love your neighbours, you don’t love God.
“So we are challenged in this Christmas Carol year 2024 to love one another,” he said.
Also speaking, Pastor Ibijoke Ogundipe, the wife of the senior pastor of the church, urged women to show love.
“I call on women as the bedrock of society to gather everyone around them and share the love. This will help us to progress as a nation,” she said.
Apostle Seun Sodipe, secretary of the Carol Steering Committee, called on Christians to share God’s blessings for mankind.
“We never know what the next person is going through. A kind word and gesture can go a long way in ensuring that the person feels loved.”
There were different Christmas songs rendition by the Peculiar Choir and the church’s children’s choir.
