Fruitful Living
Do you remember? (Part 1)
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” —John 3:17
INTRODUCTION
This year’s Easter has provided another opportunity for the Christian world to elaborate on the crowning work of our loving Saviour. We spent time to dissect the horrors of the supreme sacrifice that made the positive difference in our eternal destiny. Sermons, songs, and in some cases, the ordinance of foot washing and communion, helped to re-enact the events of the last supper. And once again, we remembered that someone gave His life that we might have everlasting life.
It was a recollection that filled us with dread. For how could a holy God love our sinful human race so much that He put His only begotten Son through that much suffering so that we might be saved? It was also a recollection that filled us with hope. For how could we fear for the future when the crucified Christ rose from the dead and now lives forever?
As the rest of the year stretches ahead of us, if there is one message to keep in mind, it is that Jesus did not die in vain. He died for a purpose, and that purpose extends beyond the Easter holidays. In our key text, we are reminded that He came to save, and not to condemn the world. He has completed His part, and left us to do our part.
As terrible as the pain was, He bore it for our sake. As humiliating and degrading as He was made to feel, He patiently submitted Himself to it all, though He could have called ten thousand angels to slay all those who played principal parts to perpetuate that injustice. He bore it all, so that we can benefit from it. What then are we expected to do in response to such a greatexpression of love?
THE GENERAL RESPONSE
TO CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
We know from Biblical accounts that those who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ did not forget in a hurry. There were those who denied it, knowing in their hearts that they were untrue to compelling evidences and to their own consciences. There were those who had previously doubted, but understood Him clearly only while He was on the cross.
All were touched in irreversible ways. And when Jesus rose again, it was the cue for many to then confess Him as Lord till their last breath.
Jesus did not need to remain physically with them after His resurrection. He had taught them during His three and a half years with them and left them with the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide. His disciples remembered, and the fervor of their witness ignited new generations of other witnesses. They did not just confess Him with their mouths or profess Him merely in their hearts. They did so with their lives. Undaunted by the threat of death, they considered the spilling of their blood a feeble match for the shed blood of God’s Son.
When Peter came face to face with the cross, he saw his unworthiness in stark contrast to the innocence of the One condemned.
When Paul was confronted with the reality of the One who died on the cross, he made a U-turn. Stephen kept his faith to the last, unshaken by the weight of the stones thrown at him, and it did not succeed in shutting out his witness. He breathed his last as a faithful, unrelenting witness of the power of God’s grace. The apostle John died with his belief in the efficacy of the sacrifice of the Son of God.
These men realised how important the issue of salvation is. The recollections of the Roman whip on Jesus’ back, the jeers, and sneers, and shoves—all for a crime He did not commit fired them up. These spoke to them louder and clearer than even Jesus’ words.
Those who were His disciples remembered the times He got hungry and thirsty and tired, all because He wanted to save sinful man. They saw clearly how He went through all of that, by choice, and not because we deserve it.
They remembered how, during the last supper with them, He broke bread and poured wine and commanded them: “Do this in remembrance of me.” As believers, do we remember all these, or have they faded from our memory already, buried under a pile of work and day-to-day concerns?
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE
Remember how on Easter Sunday, we showed up in our Easter clothes and listened with rapt attention to the preacher?
irred deep within us and evoked a commitment to forsake all for the cause of Christ. Just as we were reminded that He died for us, so we are committed to live for Him. Do we still feel the same way today, or have the cares of the week piled on top of the commitment we made? Has it been so long already since that stirring sermon?
Is our life back to the routine of the usual grind? Do we think we can go back to our old way of seeing and doing things? Does Christ’s death and sacrifice impact the choices we make, the friends we keep, how we use our resources, what we eat, and drink, and wear, and how we live our lives?
Do we remember why He died for us? And do we remember that He lives interceding for us so we will not be lost? What has changed about our lives since we pondered the account of Easter this year? Remember, He did not die in vain. Remember, we should not hear the account of His death or profess our belief in His sacrifice in vain. If we recognise that, then we should accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. And if we accept Him as Lord, then we should let Him to have full reign and take charge of our lives.
In closing, Bill Gaither reminds us of our hope as believers in his classic hymn, Because He Lives.
1. God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives!
Chorus:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
2. How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
3. And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
To be continued!
Stay blessed!
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By Dr Joyce Aryee, The Author
The internationally accepted definition (from the UN Palermo Protocol, 2000) identifies three elements:
ACT (What is done), which includes:
• Recruitment, transportation, transfer harbouring, or receipt of persons. How it is Applied:
In Ghana, traffickers recruit children from rural areas under false promises of education or employment.
MEANS (How it is done), which includes:
• Threats
• Coercion
• Deception
• Abuse of vulnerability
How it is applied:
Parents may be deceived into releasing children, or victims may be threatened into silence.
PURPOSE (Why it is done), which includes:
• Sexual exploitation
• Forced labour
• Slavery
• Organ harvesting
Key Insight:
Even if a victim appears to “consent,” such consent is legally irrelevant if coercion or deception is involved.
Islamic legal principles align with this framework by prohibiting exploitation (ẓulm) and unjust enrichment, rendering trafficking morally and legally impermissible (Bawono & Huda, 2025).
Forms and impacts of human trafficking
Human trafficking manifests in several forms:
• Child trafficking → educational deprivation, psychological trauma
• Forced labour → economic exploitation, health risks
• Sexual exploitation → severe physical and emotional harm
• Organ trafficking → life-threatening and ethically egregious
Human trafficking manifests in diverse and interconnected forms. Child trafficking leads to loss of education, long-term psychological trauma, and entrenched poverty.
Forced labour subjects victims to severe economic exploitation and hazardous working conditions, often resulting in deteriorating health. Sexual exploitation inflicts profound physical abuse and emotional damage, alongside social stigma.
Organ trafficking poses life-threatening risks and represents a grave ethical violation. Collectively, these practices undermine human capital, weaken social structures, and hinder sustainable development. These forms collectively erode human capital and social stability.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks
International Legal Instruments
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948)
The UDHR provides the normative foundation for global human rights law:
• Article 1: Affirms equality and freedom of all humans
• Article 4: Explicitly prohibits slavery and servitude
• Article 5: Prohibits torture and degrading treatment
Analytical Insight:
Human trafficking violates all three provisions simultaneously. Victims are deprived of freedom (Article 1), subjected to forced labour (Article 4), and exposed to degrading conditions (Article 5).
These align closely with Islamic prohibitions against oppression and injustice.
Palermo Protocol (2000)
This is the primary international legal instrument addressing trafficking:
• Provides the AMP definition (Act–Means–Purpose)
• Emphasises the 3Ps framework: Prevention, protection, prosecution
• Recognises victim rights and state obligations
Analytical insight:
The Protocol’s emphasis on protection and dignity parallels Islamic legal objectives, particularly the preservation of life and honour. Comparative studies show strong convergence between Islamic law and international anti-trafficking norms (Jamal, 2025).
Regional framework
African charter on human and peoples’ rights
• Article 5: Protects human dignity and prohibits exploitation
• Article 15: Guarantees equitable working conditions
Analytical insight:
The Charter contextualises human rights within African socio-cultural realities, reinforcing communal responsibility an idea that resonates with Islamic communal ethics (ummah).
National framework: Ghana 1992 Constitution of Ghana
• Article 15: Guarantees the dignity of all persons and prohibits torture or degrading treatment
• Article 16: Explicitly prohibits slavery, servitude, and forced labour
• Article 21: Guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms, including personal liberty, freedom of movement, and constitutional safeguard against human trafficking. In particular, Article 21 affirms the right of individuals to move freely, make autonomous decisions, and live without coercion.
Human trafficking directly contravenes these rights by restricting victims’ movement, subjecting them to confinement, and denying their personal liberty through deception and force. Victims are often transported against their will and held in exploitative conditions, thereby violating their constitutional freedoms.
Consequently, trafficking not only breaches specific prohibitions under Articles 15 and 16 but also fundamentally undermines the broader human rights guarantees freedom from arbitrary restraint.
Human Trafficking Act (Act 694, as amended)
• Criminalises all forms of human trafficking, including recruitment, transportation, harbouring, and exploitation
• Provides for victim protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration through state-supported mechanisms
• Establishes institutional frameworks for investigation, prosecution, and inter-agency collaboration
Critical and normative insight:
The Act reflects Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding human dignity and aligns with international standards. However, enforcement challenges persist due to limited funding, weak institutional coordination, and low public awareness, which hinder effective implementation.
From an Islamic perspective, the provisions of Act 694 resonate strongly with core Sharīʿah principles. Islam unequivocally prohibits all forms of exploitation (ẓulm), coercion, and the commodification of human beings. Human trafficking violates the divinely ordained dignity (karāmah) of individuals, undermines justice (‘adl), and disrupts social balance. By criminalising trafficking and promoting victim protection, the Act indirectly advances the higher objectives of
Islamic law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah), particularly the preservation of life, dignity, and wealth. Thus, both Islamic teachings and Ghanaian law converge in condemning trafficking as a grave moral and legal injustice.
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Children’s Act (Act 560)
• Protects children from exploitative labour and harmful practices
• Promotes access to education, welfare, and holistic development
Domestic Violence Act (Act 732)
• Addresses physical, emotional, and psychological abuse often associated with trafficking
• Provides legal remedies, protection orders, and support systems for victims
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone
Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam, Certified
Counsellor and Governance Expert
Jesus teaches, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
Light is not meant to be hidden. In Ephesians 5:8, the Bible says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
This means our faith should be visible in the way we live. Not in a loud or forceful way, but in a consistent and genuine way.
When we choose honesty, kindness, patience, and love, we are shining our light. People may not always listen to what we say, but they will see how we live.
Your Life Should Point Others to God
Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This is the purpose of being salt and light. It is not about drawing attention to ourselves, but about pointing people to God.
In 1 Peter 2:12, we are encouraged to live such good lives that others may see our actions and glorify God.
Our lives become a testimony. The way we treat people, the way we handle challenges, and the way we walk in love all speak loudly.Through us, others can begin to see the goodness and grace of God.
6. Being Salt and Light Requires a Living Relationship with God
We cannot live this life in our own strength.
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing.” This reminds us that our ability to influence the world comes from our connection with Him.
As we spend time in prayer, study His Word, and walk in obedience, our lives are transformed. From that place, we begin to reflect Him naturally.
It is not about striving. It is about abiding in Him.
A Simple Reflection
To be salt and light means:
² To influence the world with Godly character
² To live differently according to God’s Word
² To shine through your daily actions
² To point others to Christ
² To remain connected to Him at all times
Conclusion
Jesus has already declared who you are. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. The question is whether you are living out that identity.
The world needs your influence. The world needs your light. In your home, your workplace, your church, and your community, God has placed you there for a reason.
As you walk with Him, your life will naturally make an impact. Shine your light,
stay true to His Word and let your life bring glory to God.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
