Truth and Godliness

11/03/2026

TO EXPLAIN MATTHEW 10:40–42.

We have to look at it as the "grand finale" of Jesus’s instructions to his disciples. He has just told them they will be hated, persecuted, and disowned by their families.

These final three verses serve as a protective shield and a promise of partnership for those who support the movement.
1. The Divine Chain of Command (Verse 40)
> "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."
>
In the legal and cultural world of the first century, there was a concept called the Shaliach. This was a person appointed to act as a legal proxy for another. The Jewish saying was, "A man’s agent is like the man himself."
* The Theological Link: Jesus is saying that the authority of God the Father flows through Him, then through the Disciples, and finally touches the person who welcomes them.
* The Weight of Hospitality: When a person opened their door to a ragged, tired disciple, they weren't just hosting a traveler; they were hosting the Presence of God.

2. The Law of Shared Reward (Verse 41)
> "The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward..."
>
This is perhaps the most encouraging part of the passage for the "average" person. Not everyone is called to be a Prophet (one who speaks God's word) or a "Righteous Person" (one known for their public piety).
* The "Silent Partner" Principle: In ancient warfare, the soldiers who stayed behind to guard the supplies received the same share of the loot as those who went into battle (1 Samuel 30:24).
* The Meaning: If you support a missionary, a pastor, or a person of integrity—even if you never preach a sermon yourself—God credits their impact to your account. You are a co-laborer in their fruit.

3. The Significance of the Small (Verse 42)
> "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple... he will surely not lose his reward."
>
Jesus uses the term "little ones" to describe his disciples. He isn't talking about children; he's talking about their status. They were sent out with no money, no bag, and no extra sandals. They were vulnerable.
* A Cup of Cold Water: In the Middle East, water was a basic necessity, but cold water required effort (drawing it fresh from a deep well).
* The Lowest Bar of Entry: Jesus is lowering the "entry fee" for faithfulness. You don't need to fund a cathedral or die a martyr to be noticed by God. A simple act of kindness toward a believer is a kingdom-level event.

SUMMARY: Why This Matters Today
This passage completely redefines success in the eyes of God. It teaches us three main things:
* Identity: You represent Jesus wherever you go.
* Partnership: Supporting the work of others is just as holy as doing the work yourself.
* Observation: God is an "expert observer" of small things. No act of kindness goes unnoticed.

16/01/2026

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will exalt you in due time

08/01/2026

SETTING GOALS AND CRUSHING THEM IN THE NEW YEAR

As we've stepped into a new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on what we want to achieve. Setting goals gives us direction, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment. However, setting goals is just the first step. The real challenge lies in staying committed and tracking progress.

Why Goal Setting Matters?

Goal setting helps us focus on what's truly important, prioritize our time and energy, and make progress towards our aspirations. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, we can:

- Clarify our priorities and values
- Boost motivation and confidence
- Create a roadmap for success

Here are some Tips for Achieving Your Goals this Year;

1. Make it SMART: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.
2. Break it down: Divide large goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
3. Track progress: Use a journal, spreadsheet, or app to monitor your progress.
4. Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way.
5. Be flexible: Life is unpredictable, and goals may need to adjust.

Staying on Track

To ensure you're making progress towards your goals, ask yourself:

- What are my goals, and why are they important to me?
- What specific actions will I take today to move closer to my goal?
- What's working, and what's not?

By setting SMART goals and regularly tracking progress, you'll be more likely to achieve your aspirations. Remember, goal setting is a journey, not a destination. Stay focused, stay motivated, and celebrate your successes along the way.

📝 Nicole Prosper-Free

02/01/2026

A TESTIMONY OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

One of the things I'm grateful for in 2026 is the gift of men. God always showed up for us through people at the point we needed them the most.

Growing up, my mom would always encourage me to help people especially when someone puts to bed, she will tell me to go and visit them, go to their houses regularly, help them to carry their babies, wash their clothes, clean their houses, ask them what they need.
She would always say; Help people so that when you get married and have your own children, people will also help you.

From a very tender age, I loved babies. God knows how much I loved babies deeply.

Anytime anyone gives birth in my church back then, I will automatically become the baby's nanny. I will be going to the person's house almost every day, carrying the baby, helping the person to do what I can do, maybe to wash, to clean, to do anything. I did that from my childhood days till I finally got married and left where my parents were based and came to Lagos.

When I got married and started having my own children, I started seeing what my mom was always telling me. God will always use people to bless me.

Now, let me flash back to when I had my first child. I was always worried and thinking of my child's welfare after my 3 months maternity leaves elapses. I could not drop her in a daycare at 3 months.
We prayed about it and my husband's niece showed up.

The father just released the daughter without any complaint. Rosemary was so happy coming to live with us even when she knew she had to sacrifice her one term of school because she had to stay at home with the baby who was still too tender.

I had fears. "Can this girl do this? Can she take care of my child?"

But when I look back today, I call her my helper, because of a truth, nobody could have done it better. I always say this to her, "you are the one God used to bless me for all my hardwork and sacrifices in my parents house".

Her love for my children and diligence in house chores is not what I can begin to commend in this article.

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Now, when I had my twins in April last year. You know, I became worried again, as usual, every mom will always get worried. I cannot leave only this my girl, Rosemary, to take care of my first child and the twins from morning to evening. It's not possible; she can't cope." We needed another hand, preferably a nanny that will be coming around very early in the morning and closing, when I come back from work. That was the arrangement, but who was the person?

The kind of stories we hear these days of people bringing in a nanny to their house and the nanny will be....... you know, do a lot of things, terrible things to the children. I was so scared; who will I pick?

Again, we committed it to God in prayers.

And then you see this mummy right here, God used her.

We have always been in the same district for the past three years, but we've not really been that close, just greeting, greeting. But I never knew that God can use even the least expected person in your life. So God used her; she just agreed that she will do it. Although, she has her own personal business but she decided to sacrifice for the twins.

The arrangement was from August till December 2025. she started taking care of my babies. When she first started, I just felt, "Well, she's okay, I think she's a Christian, she has the fear of God, she will take care of them well." But I never expected her to do it the way she did it. She took these children like her own. The way the children bonded with her within a very short period of time was really, really amazing. For the 5months, she took care of my babies, no issues all. I had this peace while at work, I didn't worry over them at all.
God used her to relieve me.

And now I remember what my mother always tells me, "When you help others, when you do things for others, it will come back to you in ways you will not expect." So I want to use the opportunity to not just appreciate this woman but to say to you reading this post that in life, don't always think about yourself, yourself, yourself. Do for others, live for others. It will come back to you in ways you will not understand. It might not really come back to you exactly the way you did it. It will come back to you differently. So help others and help will arise for you and your own children when you need it most.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.
HAVE A BLESSED 2026 AHEAD!

📝 Nicole Prosper-Free

14/11/2025

JUST BE YOURSELF

I notice that in life, when you do things to impress people or you do things consciously so that when you leave, people will say, this is what this person is good at. This person is this, this person is that." You will be disappointed.

There are times in my workplace and some other places where I find myself, I hear people say things like, "When this person was here, this is what this person used to do. This person was so good at this."

You know, people praise people a lot after they have left. People will always say what they have learned from that person or what they are learning. Even if the person is still there, maybe in the person's absence.

You could be in a corner listening, probably feeling bad or motivated and also want others to also say these kind of things about you too. Even if it's not exactly but at least, let people also say some good things about you too.

And then, consciously, you begin to, live your life in that pattern. Just trying to be good in the eyes of people, so that when you are no longer there, they will say so many good things about you.

See, you will get disappointed. I'm telling you, the earlier you begin to live your life the way you are, let people see you for who you are. The only thing you have to do is to work on yourself, any bad side that you know is not going to speak well of you. Work on it, pray, ask God to help you.

You can't duplicate your person. You can't force people to have an impression about you that they can't see.

So, it's not something you can pretend or you can act. Even if you try it for one week, you are consciously doing this, doing that. My dear, time will tell who you are. So, please, be yourself in your place of work, or anywhere you find yourself. Be yourself.

You are not that your special colleague, or that your popular friend, neither are you that sister/brother in church, or that your lovely neighbour. You are YOU. Forget about trying to impress anybody or trying to leave an impression behind. You are doing well. You might think people don't like you for something, probably you feel your good works are not noticed. But forget it. In your absence, they are saying some things about you.

You are unique. Learn to embrace the fact that you are unique. Be yourself. That little thing you are doing is touching somebody. It might not touch everybody. Not everybody is called to touch everybody. Some people are called to just touch some specific kind of people. So, be yourself. Don't fake it. Don't force it. Okay, just be real. Be good. That little you are doing, people are seeing it, and it's making meaning.

Stop forcing yourself to be like that staff that resigned a month ago, or that friend that left or maybe that sister in church that got transferred and you are trying to be the one to fill the gap, you can't fill it. You will only be stressing yourself.

You are doing well, you only need to improve as the day goes by. Shalom!

✍️Nicole Prosper-Free

14/11/2025