Fruitful Living
Bearing the fruit of love
But the fruit of the Spirit is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
The tendency of us human beings is to love only those that we find convenient to love. And that I guess it makes sense, but it does only in our selfish nature. The question then is: Is it really possible to love everyone?
We will not get the chance to meet every one of the 7 billion plus people living here on earth, but chances are high that each of us will get the opportunity to meet at least 100 people in our lifetime. Of the figurative 100 people we’re likely to meet in our lifetime, how many have we actually connected through the chord of love? How many have we loved, as Christ commands? Or has our focus been on only the loving, the lovely, and the loveable?
If we want to be truthful, we will admit that some people are downright hateful, and make better enemies than friends. Nothing will make us happier than to just avoid or ignore them when they’re around us, and to try to forget that they exist as soon as they’re out of our sight. Jesus knows about such hateful people in the world for He had a lot of enemies and suffered at their hands. He knows how easy it is to concentrate on the easy people. It’s why He reminds us:
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. – Luke 6:27-35 (NIV).
Who then are the enemies that come to mind? The ones that have gossiped about us, stolen from us, killed our loved ones, cheated us of our rights, made attempts to kill us, do not wish us well at all, and done or possess all the bad things that define an enemy from a friend?
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back,” is what Jesus is telling us.
Unfortunately for us, no matter how hard we try, we can’t by ourselves love people the way God wants us to do. We’ve been too hurt and are too scared to really let go and love people as we ought. Too many people have done too many bad and unforgettable things to our dead ancestors and living relatives, to us in our childhood that still hurt us. We have heard a lot of horror stories about what happened to neighbors, colleagues and friends’ friends. We have read novels and watched too many movies. Hence, by age thirty-five most people have usually worked out an acceptable formula of those to love. Yet none of these changes God’s command to bear the fruit of love.
God knows that our formula isn’t good enough for what He knows He has deposited in us. He knows that we are also capable of loving those who are not our friends, and He called our attention to loving beyond duty, really stepping out of our comfort zones to where we would allow God to love others through us, including our enemies. He reminds us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5. Bearing the fruit of love is possible only through Christ, a provision that’s been made for us.
Stay blessed!
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By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Preparing for Ramadan through the month of Sha‘ban
THE month of Sha‘ban, which precedes Ramadan, serves as a spiritual training ground. The Prophet (s.a.w.) devoted significant attention to this month, fasting frequently and encouraging heightened acts of worship. ‘Aishah (r.a.) narrated:
“I did not see the Messenger of Allah complete fasting in any month except Ramadan, and I did not see him fast more in any month than in Sha‘ban.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
During Sha‘ban, Muslims are encouraged to:
• Observe optional fasts,
• Increase Qur’anic recitation,
• Engage in charitable deeds (ṣadaqah),
• Strengthen community bonds and service.
These acts gradually condition both the body and soul for the rigours and blessings of Ramadan.
Scholarly guidance and community sensitisation
Across Muslim communities, scholars and religious leaders organise lectures, workshops, sermons, and media engagements to educate the Ummah about Ramadan. These initiatives address:
• The jurisprudence (fiqh) of fasting,
• The obligation to make up missed fasts from previous years,
• The ethical conduct expected during Ramadan,
• The spiritual, social, and health benefits of fasting.
Modern studies have also affirmed that fasting, when properly observed, contributes to improved self-discipline, metabolic balance, and emotional regulation—findings that align with Islamic teachings on moderation and self-control.
The role of parents and families in Ramadan preparation
Preparation begins at home. Parents play a vital role in nurturing a Ramadan-conscious environment by:
• Encouraging children and young adults to try voluntary fasts,
• Training family members to wake up for Tahajjud (night prayers),
• Establishing regular family supplications and Qur’an reading sessions.
Such practices help instill lifelong spiritual habits and strengthen family unity through shared worship.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
JESUS, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. – Luke 4:1-2a
Introduction
Lent is a period when the Holy Spirit strengthens us to face the day to day testing and temptations. Just like Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil, we also have power and will to overcome any temptation that comes our way. I invite you to give your whole heart to Jesus Christ and enjoy the power to overcome the devil’s schemes.
Tempted by the devil
One aspect of Jesus’ temptation resolved around what kind of Messiah, or Saviour, He would be and how He would use His anointing (His authority and empowerment) from God. (Many Jews would reject Him because He did not fulfill their expectations of a political “Saviour” who would step forward with military might and free them from Roman rule.)
• Satan tempted Jesus to use His power to serve His own self-interest to gain glory and power over the nations instead of accepting the humility and suffering that was ahead for Him. This was an opportunity for Him to satisfy the people’s expectation for a charismatic Messiah.
• Satan still tempts Christian leaders to use their spiritual authority, position and ability for their own self-interest, to establish their own reputation and power and to please people rather than God. Those who selfishly compromise with Satan have actually surrendered to His control.
• Jesus turned away every one of Satan’s temptations by properly referring to God’s Word (“It is written”). If this was the effective strategy for Jesus, we certainly must know and rely on His Word as revealed to us in the Bible.
LUKE 4:4 – MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.
• Satan tempts Jesus’ “flesh”, or physical desires, of which hunger is perhaps the strongest – particularly after such an extended time without food. While it may have seemed reasonable to perform a miracle to eat, Jesus would not be tempted to use His power for selfish reasons. Jesus meets and resists Satan’s temptation by declaring that He will live by God’s Word above all else.
Jesus is saying that everything truly important in life depends on God and His plans and purposes. To strive for success, happiness or material things apart from God’s way and purpose will lead to disappointment and end in failure.
Jesus emphasized this truth when He taught that we must seek God’s kingdom (God’s authority, activity, purposes and power in our lives) above anything and everything else. If we do, God promises to take care of all our needs and give us all other necessary things just the way He intends.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
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