Fruitful Living

Live like Jesus: with discernment (Part 1)

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:6 (NLT)

Introduction

At the heart of the Christian faith lies a simple but profound calling: to live like Jesus. The Apostle John put it plainly: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NLT). That verse is both a comfort and a challenge. It reminds us that the way we live matters, and it calls us to measure our actions, decisions, and desires against the life and example of Christ.

But how do we live like Jesus in a world overflowing with conflicting ideas, competing philosophies, and temptations on every side? How do we stay anchored in truth when culture often celebrates what God forbids and mocks what God honours?

One essential answer is discernment. To live like Jesus is to cultivate spiritual discernment — the ability to separate truth from error, light from darkness, the eternal from the temporary. Jesus Himself was discerning in His earthly ministry, and He calls us to be the same. Without discernment, we risk drifting into compromise and mistaking the world’s counterfeits for God’s truth.

What is discernment?

To be discerning is to test everything we encounter by God’s Word. It means asking: “Is this true? Is this aligned with God’s perspective? Will this draw me closer to Him, or will it distance me from Him?”

Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)

Discernment begins in the mind. When our thinking is shaped by Scripture and the Spirit, we are able to recognise deception and stand firm in truth. By contrast, when our minds are shaped only by culture, we are easily swayed by popular opinion, passing trends, or empty philosophies.

Jesus Himself emphasised this balance in John 7:24:“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” (NIV)

Discernment, then, is not about being suspicious or overly critical. It is not cynicism or negativity. Rather, it is the ability to see with spiritual clarity — to recognise what is authentically right in God’s eyes.

Why discernment is necessary

The call to discernment is urgent because our world is filled with influences that can subtly shape our thoughts and values. Much of what passes for entertainment or education today is, in reality, an attempt to feed us a worldview. The songs we sing, the shows we watch, the conversations we join, all have the potential to shape our beliefs and actions.

Jesus warned His disciples: “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.” – Luke 11:35 (NLT)

That warning is sobering. We can easily mistake lies for truth if we are not grounded in God’s Word. Consider how often we find ourselves humming a tune with lyrics that contradict our values, or laughing at behaviors in movies that we would never accept in real life. What we casually take in becomes planted in our hearts, and eventually it bears fruit in our choices.

Discernment helps us recognise these dangers. It keeps us from being deceived by what looks attractive but is spiritually harmful. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (NIV)

Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

Fruitful Living

Role and contribution of women in Islam (Part 1)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We begin in the name of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, sending endless praises upon Him, and invoking peace and blessings upon His noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his family, and his companions.

Introduction

Throughout human history, women have often suffered marginalisation and discrimination. In some societies, they were denied property rights, inheritance, and education, while others reduced them to mere objects of ownership (Engineer, 2008). Unfortunately, these misconceptions have carried into modern times, with many still perceiving Islam as an oppressive religion for women.

In truth, Islam came to restore women’s dignity, ensuring their legal, economic, and social rights. The Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) teachings positioned women as equal spiritual beings and essential contributors to family and society (Barlas, 2019).

Women Before Islam

Pre-Islamic Arabia, known as the Jahiliyyah era, was marked by profound injustices against women. The birth of a daughter was often considered a source of shame, leading to the horrific practice of female infanticide. The Qur’an strongly condemned this crime: “And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked, for what sin she was killed” (Qur’an 81:8–9). Beyond this, women were regarded as part of a man’s inheritance, transferred like property to male relatives upon a husband’s death. They had no recognised rights to inheritance, education, or social participation, and were excluded from leadership and decision-making roles (Stowasser, 1996). This oppressive environment highlights the transformative nature of Islam, which elevated women’s status by granting them dignity, rights, and responsibilities.

How Islam liberated and empowered women

With the advent of Islam, a radical transformation occurred in the condition of women. The Qur’an firmly established spiritual equality between men and women, affirming: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women… Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Qur’an 33:35). This verse placed women as equal participants in faith, worship, and accountability before Allah.

Islam also granted women rights that were unprecedented at the time. These included:

Inheritance: “For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share… a legal share.” (Qur’an 4:7).
Consent in marriage: “O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will…” (Qur’an 4:19).
Independent economic rights: “For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn.” (Qur’an 4:32).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reinforced this vision by declaring: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female.” (Ibn Majah, Hadith 224). By institutionalising these rights, Islam recognised women’s agency in family, society, and the marketplace centuries before modern feminist discourse (Mernissi, 1991).

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

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Fruitful Living

Men and women of faith – called to abound in the lord (Final)

We are accosted by fear because we do not know how we can face all these pressures and survive.

This, however, is the time to strongly trust in our Lord Jesus Christ by whose resurrection the Lord God our Father has categorically confirmed that Jesus is indeed Lord and Saviour.

This is the time to know that we are on the Lord’s side, we are standing on the Solid Rock – Jesus Christ Himself.

This is the time to show boldly by our lives that we need no argument; we need no plea; it is enough that Jesus died and that He died for you and for me. As Christians, we too are called into various ministries; we are not to be spectators, NO!! We are to be busy for the Lord – not busybodies, gossiping, bringing conflict, etc. No.

We are to be fully engaged for the Lord as He, by His Holy Spirit enables us. As we read in the Bible – we are called to be co-workers in the Kingdom; disciples of believers; engaged in evangelism; serve in the local church as deacons, deaconesses and other active workers; we are given the gifts of prophecy; we are to operate in all the spiritual gifts that the Lord in His wisdom has fully given us by His Holy Spirit.

How then do we as Paul admonish us, stand firm and let nothing move us? I would like us to see ourselves in the light of Eph. 6:10-18. Paul speaks to us to be strong in the power of the Lord, to always wear our spiritual armour and pray!!! He uses the word STAND four times between verse 13 – 14a.

Take our stand against the devil’s schemes;
Stand our ground when the evil day comes;
Stand after we’ve done everything;
Stand firm with our full armour.

What I learn is that it is all about our total dependence in the one who has called us into His Kingdom – Jesus Christ. We stand and remain immovable in Him and in His strength!

To Ponder:

Oh, it is hard to work for GOD, to rise and take His part, upon this battlefield of earth

And not sometimes lose heart!

Workman of GOD! O lose not heart, But learn what GOD is like, And in the darkest battlefield thou shalt know where to strike.