Fruitful Living
Making one’s calling and election sure
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you willreceive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:3-11.
INTRODUCTION
The power to live a godly life comes from God because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to “share His divine nature” in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness.
A. EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS
No additional human wisdom, no technique or theory is needed to supplement or complete the message of God’s Word that reveals His perfect plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The words of Jesus, along with the faith and teaching of those He used to communicate His original message as we have it in the New Testament, were adequate in the early days of the church to reveal God’s grace and meet the needs of the spiritually lost. The same message is just as adequate today. Absolutely nothing can offer more depth of insight or power to help people find true life than what God has already revealed to us through His Word. Jesus Christ alone is “the way and the truth and the life” – John 14:6.
B. PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE
Our participation in God’s very nature is another description of the new birth – being spiritually “born again” by which we receive God’s life and spiritual salvation. We have the privilege of sharing in God’s nature, so we can fulfil the responsibility of conforming to His character and standard of holiness.
C. ADD TO YOUR FAITH
Peter lists the positive character traits that a Christian must develop in order to be spiritually victorious, effective and productive in serving God. But false teachers had been teaching just the opposite: their special knowledge made some of these traits, such as self-control, unnecessary. But Peter makes it clear that Christians are to develop these traits. The phrase “make every effort” clearly explains that believers must be actively involved in their personal Christian growth.
Those who become Christians should make it their goal to develop in their faith the list of seven qualities:
1. Goodness
2. Knowledge
3. Self-control
4. Perseverance
5. Godliness
6. Mutual Affection
7. Love
Note that godly characteristics do not automatically grow without our dependence on God and our diligent effort to develop them.
D. IF YOU POSSESS THESE QUALITIES IN INCFREASING MEASURE
Peter is not implying that a Christian has to develop these traits in a precise order, one after the other, until they reach maturity or perfection. Instead, all of these qualities are to be cultivated all together and continually.
The Christian experience (a continuous relationship with the living God) should never remain stationary or stagnant. In fact, it could be said that if a person is not growing in faith, he or she is withering and dying spiritually. A person certainly cannot be productive to the fullest measure in serving God apart from consistent growth in faith, character and personal companionship with Jesus. If we ever find that we are not being effective in our service to God, we must examine our lives to ensure that we are, indeed, growing in the character traits mentioned.
E. HOW TO MAKE OUR CALLING SURE
Our faith and salvation must not be taken for granted. We must continue to persevere in our faith and grow in our relationship with God. By diligently developing the godly character traits mentioned – which is only possible as we grow closer to Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit – we will show that we are truly God’s people. God’s calling is to a life of obedience and holiness. Those who continue to follow Christ and grow in these disciplines will ensure their faithfulness to the end.
F. RICH WELCOME INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM
Because of their negligence, some Christians will barely make it into the kingdom of heaven. Other Christians, who remain firm and faithful in their spiritual growth and character, will be welcomed richly with honour.
CONCLUSION
Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. – James 2:14-17.
Peter lists several of faith’s actions: learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God’s will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don’t finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but He gives us also the responsibility to learn and to grow.
The love of our heavenly Father, salvation through Jesus Christ, Christ’s intercession for us in heaven, the inner presence of and baptism in the Holy Spirit, the companionship of other Christians and God’s inspired Word are sufficient to meet all our needs for life and godly character development.
Stay blessed!
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By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
Qur’an: A Book of Guidance beyond Ramadan
Introduction
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad is His final messenger.
May peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his noble companions, and all those who follow his righteous path until the Day of Judgment.
The Qur’an is a divine revelation from Allah and serves as a timeless guide for humanity. It is not just a book for recitation but a comprehensive manual that provides wisdom, moral values, and laws that shape human life in all aspects.
The Qur’an answers fundamental existential questions: Who created us? Why are we here? How should we live our lives? What happens after death?
Allah affirms in the Qur’an:
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” (Qur’an 2:2).
Many Muslims increase their engagement with the Qur’an during the month of Ramadan, a month in which the Qur’an was revealed. However, the Qur’an’s message extends far beyond Ramadan; it should be the guiding light in our daily lives, influencing our thoughts, actions, and decisions.
The Meaning and Names of the Qur’an
The word Qur’an comes from the Arabic root “Qara’a”, which means “to read” or “to recite”. The Qur’an is called this because it is meant to be continuously recited, reflected upon, and acted upon. It is not just a book for passive reading but for active learning, understanding, and implementation in all facets of life.
The Qur’an is known by several names in the Islamic tradition, each revealing an essential characteristic of the book:
• Al-Qur’an: Meaning “The Recitation”, emphasizing that it is a book to be recited regularly, in prayer and outside of it.
• Al-Furqan: Meaning “The Criterion”, which distinguishes between truth and falsehood. It provides moral clarity and guidance on what is right and wrong.
• Adh-Dhikr: Meaning “The Reminder”, because it constantly reminds human beings of their purpose in life and their accountability before Allah.
• An-Nur: Meaning “The Light”, as it illuminates the path of righteousness and removes the darkness of ignorance.
• Al-Kitab: Meaning “The Book”, signifying that it is a complete and preserved scripture meant for all time.
• Ash-Shifa: Meaning “The Healing”, as it provides spiritual, psychological, and even physical healing to those who turn to it with sincerity.
These names indicate that the Qur’an is more than just a collection of verses; it is a divine guide, a moral compass, a source of healing, and a light that dispels darkness.
The Revelation of the Qur’an: A Divine Message for Humanity
The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years through Angel Jibreel. The revelation took place in two distinct phases:
• The Makkan Phase (13 years): The chapters revealed in this period focused on faith in Allah, monotheism, the resurrection, and moral values. Since the early Muslim community was small and persecuted, these revelations gave them spiritual strength and perseverance.
• The Madinan Phase (10 years): The revelations during this period were more detailed and addressed laws, governance, social justice, and community life. The Muslim community had grown in Madinah, and legal rulings on marriage, inheritance, and commerce were introduced to regulate societal affairs.
* The writer is the Metropolitan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso
To be continued…
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai – 1 BN Michel Camp, Tema
Fruitful Living
Bearing the fruit of love
But the fruit of the Spirit is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Imagine if all the trees in the world were fruit trees? And they all bore fruits of love? And those who see these fruits of love could eat of it, and give to everyone else until it became the staple meal for everybody? Were this to be the case, maybe the so-far elusive utopia that we think is impossible will become a reality. Maybe we would have less sickness and pain in the world. And just maybe it would be alright for this world to last forever.
What is certain though is that this kind of world we envision is attainable, if not on this earth, in heaven. And that heaven begins here, where you and I are. Jesus said: “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:21. The kingdom of God “is within” us when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – when we surrender to the lordship of Christ and do His will. When we do so, we will be able to bear the fruits of love and enjoy heaven here on earth. That is the clearest evidence we can give that we are citizens of heaven though we live on earth.
Love is both a gift and a fruit. The two come from the same source, the Triune God—the Three Co-Eternal Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These Three work together as one to ensure that we get the full benefit of love, first as a gift that we receive, then as a fruit that we are expected to bear.
As a gift, the God of love gave Himself to us in the Person of His only begotten Son -John 3:16. When our Lord Jesus Christ departed, He sent His representative— the Holy Spirit—to come and dwell in as many as receive Him and want Him to stay in them – John 16: 7, 13.
As a fruit, God the Father is the Gardener who prunes and tends the plant. God the Son is the Vine to which the branches are connected. God the Holy Spirit, the sap that connects us (the branches) to the Vine, vitalises the branches and allows us to blossom and bear fruits. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1,4.
Why Love?
Bearing the fruit of love is more than a feel-good experience. It is a divine command that is aimed at making us more like God. It involves sacrifice, tears, and often heartache. It can be hard but it is attainable.
Not loving others empties us of the essence of our humanity, and reduces our potentials to grow more into God’s likeness. It rips the thread that runs through the fabric of our common humanity and leaves holes and gaps that destroy the texture and beauty of what was once beautiful. The more afraid we are to love, the less human we become, and the more demonic we grow to be.
History reveals very clearly the impact of the absence and presence of love. On the one hand, where there’s no love we have hate and the wars and genocides that stem from it. There’s also poverty, hunger and homelessness, including the sad testimonials of neglect and abuse. The absence of love results in gossip, slander, jealousies and pettiness continue to inflict pain and alienate people from communities where they might thrive.
On the other hand, with love comes forgiveness and kindness—two vital ingredients of love that have prefaced healing, renewal and restoration. Love has revived hope and prolonged life, rebuilt bridges of friendship and transformed minds and hearts of individuals and groups.
God loves us too much to let us suffer and die without achieving our optimum. That is why He told us to love. Strictly for our own good, by the One who made us and knows us best. It’s a command that won’t expire because He Himself is love – 1 John 4:8. It’s an instruction that won’t fade away, for as Paul observed, “three things will remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13.
To be continued…
- By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
