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
Saying no to sin becomes easier when love leads the way
Though each of us faces temptations periodically, saying no to sin should not always be a long internal debate. Saying no becomes easier when we remember that saying yes hurts someone whose love we cannot live without.
Love is a powerful motivator. When you deeply love someone, you do not want to disappoint them or break their trust. In the same way, when we truly understand God’s love for us, obedience becomes a response of love, not merely a religious duty.
Jesus did not die for us because we were perfect. He died for us while we were still sinners. His sacrifice at Calvary was the ultimate demonstration of personal, sacrificial, and unconditional love. Every drop of blood, every wound, and every moment of suffering was endured so that we could be forgiven, restored, and given eternal life.
When we keep the cross before our eyes, sin begins to lose its attractiveness. How can we casually embrace what nailed our Saviour to the cross? How can we take lightly what cost Him everything? This realisation does not produce fear—it produces devotion.
Living with eternal accountability
Romans 14:7–12 reminds us that we do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. Each of us belongs to God, and each of us will give an account of our lives before Him. This truth is not meant to terrify us, but to sober us.
Our choices matter. Our words matter. Our actions matter. Not because we are trying to earn salvation, but because our lives are meant to reflect the One who saved us. Christianity is not a casual commitment; it is a lifelong surrender.
Living with eternal accountability helps us make wiser decisions. It teaches us to think beyond the moment and consider eternity. It helps us resist temporary pleasures that can cause lasting damage to our spiritual lives and our witness.
Conclusion
No one is too wicked, too broken, too unlovable, or too far gone for Jesus to love. His grace reaches deeper than our failures, and His mercy is greater than our mistakes. The way to life is always open, and the invitation of grace still stands.
Walking in the way of life does not mean we will never stumble, but it does mean we will never walk alone. Christ walks with us, strengthens us, forgives us, and leads us forward. And as we keep our eyes on the cross, may our hearts remain anchored in the love that saved us and continues to transform us.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
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Responsibility extends beyond our homes to our environment and communities.
Allah says: “It is He who has made you successors upon the earth.” (Qur’an 6:165)
As khalīfah (stewards), we are entrusted to protect and preserve the earth. Unfortunately, activities like illegal mining (galamsey), poor sanitation, and deforestation have become threats to our land and water bodies.
Dr Julian Agyeman and Bob Evans (2004) in Just Sustainability argue that environmental justice is deeply tied to social equity we cannot claim moral uprightness while destroying the environment that sustains others.
Every responsible man must see the environment as an amānah (trust). Picking up litter, planting trees, conserving water, and speaking against galamsey are all acts of faith. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift.” (Bukhari, Hadith 2320)
True responsibility therefore includes ecological consciousness for to destroy the environmentis to destroy the future we claim to build.
5.1 Environmental stewardship under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana establishes environmental stewardship not merely as a governmental obligation but as a moral and civic duty of all citizens. It integrates environmental protection into the nation’s vision for sustainable development, justice, and intergenerational equity. Three key articles Article 36 (9), Article 41(k), and Article 269 outline this framework of responsibility.
1. Article 36 (9): Directive principles of state policy
“The State shall take appropriate measures needed to protect and safeguard the national environment for posterity; and shall seek cooperation with other states and bodies for the purpose of protecting the wider international environment for mankind.”
This article establishes that environmental protection is both a national and global responsibility.
It commits Ghana to sustainable use of natural resources including land, forests, water, and minerals for the benefit of future generations.
In essence, it means that every Ghanaian must act with intergenerational consciousness, ensuring that today’s development does not destroy tomorrow’s heritage. This principle directly condemns harmful practices such as illegal mining (galamsey), deforestation, and pollution.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
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