Fruitful Living
The reason for the season
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION
It is that time of the year again when we begin frantic preparations for Christmas. These days, the season is one big commercial venture and most supermarkets have already decorated for the season. I would, however, like us to spend time pondering on the real reason for the season. His Name is JESUS. He entered our world for a reason and so let us look at what He has done for us as we read in scripture and see how we can turn this Christmas into a time of worship, praise, thanksgiving, generosity and great joy.
1. HE CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM SIN – “She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name JESUS, because He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
2. HE CAME TO RECONCILE US TO GOD – “That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:19
3. HE CAME TO GIVE US:
(a) ABUNDANT LIFE – “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10
(b) GRACE
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
“And are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:24
“For if, by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace….” – Romans 5:17a
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8
“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the many” – Romans 5:15
(d) PEACE–
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” – John 14:27
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His fl esh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” – Ephesians 2:14-17
(e) A NEW LIFE –
“We are therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” – Romans 6:4
4. HE CAME THAT THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE WE WILL BE CHILDREN OF GOD –
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12
• HE CAME TO MAKE US HOLY
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” – 1 Peter 2:9
• HE CAME TO MAKE US RIGHTEOUS
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
“… the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” – Rom. 5:17b
“However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness” – Romans 4:5
• HE CAME THAT WE MIGHT BE AT PEACE WITH GOD –
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” – Romans 5:1
• HE CAME THAT WE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH JOY –
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be Complete” – John 15:11
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – Romans 14:17
• HE CAME THAT WE MIGHT BE ENCAPSULATED WITH HIS LOVE –
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” – 1 John 3:1
OUR RESPONSE?
We need to respond to God’s love and grace by accepting the gift God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ. In Christ, we find all the full ness of God. Let us meditate on John 1:12-13 and Revelation 3:20 and if we have not accepted God’s indescribable Gift, this is the time to do so.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE REAL CHRISTMAS?
As we celebrate another Christmas, let’s think about the spirit of the event, rather than allow ourselves to get trapped in just the celebrations. Some of those who saw Him walk on water still rejected Him. Some who witnessed His divine introduction as God’s beloved Son in whom He is well pleased – Matthew 3:17 – still despised Him. In the same way, many of us who have read about Him and witnessed His modern-day miracles still struggle to fully accept Him.
Angels heralded the birth of Jesus, because they knew the priceless sacrifice He had come to earth to perform. Humanity, the recipient of Jesus’ sacrifice was largely oblivious to His birth and uninterested in His mission. Even His death, the culmination of the reason for His birth, was the climax of humanity’s consternation with One they despised enough to get rid of. Yet, God the All-knowing, Alpha and Omega, who saw the full picture of how His Son would be treated, still chose to send Him to dwell among us.
If Jesus had not come, our situation would have been miserable, indeed. Glory filled the earth when He was born and angels adored Him. Wise men bowed before Him, with gifts of gratitude – gold, incense and myrrh. Throughout His life on earth, God the Father attended His prayers as dew moistened His brows during many early morning supplications for the redemption of man. At His death, all heaven stood still and darkness covered the face of the earth.
Jesus came and died and He is back in heaven at the right hand of God. Beyond the food, and drinks, and new clothes and gifts of this Christmas season, remember why He came. It was to die for our sins. Hence, the only reason that can recapture the essence of Christmas is to yearn for Christ Jesus to be born anew in the heart of men and women so that humanity will be born again in the image of Christ. Then heaven will blaze with glory and its hosts will rejoice over one more sinner, reconciled to God, the Father. It is the only reason for the season. Nothing else counts. Are we ready for the real Christmas?
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 / 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
Has man lost the essence of his creation? A reflective call to rediscover our divine purpose (Part 1)
Introduction: Rediscoveringour purpose
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask for His mercy. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
In today’s increasingly materialistic and turbulent world, a profound question echoes louder than ever: Has man lost the essence of his creation? It is a question that compels every thinking soul to pause and reflect deeply.
In the midst of scientific breakthroughs, booming technology, and economic pursuits, we must ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the sacred purpose for which we were created? Are we still living as stewards of Allah on earth, or have we strayed from our divine assignment?
This article explores the Qur’anic foundation of man’s creation, the noble position he holds, and the deviation from this divine path in modern times. It further calls for a return to spiritual consciousness and outlines practical steps to help realign mankind with his intended purpose.
Man: Allah’s Vicegerent on Earth
The Qur’an states: “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (Khalifah)…’” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30).
This declaration marks the beginning of man’s honorable journey on earth. Mankind was created from clay, as recorded in Surah Al-Hijr:
“And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And the jinn We created before from scorching fire. And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.’ So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:26-29).
This prostration of angels was not to worship Adam, but to recognize the honor Allah had bestowed upon man. It signified a spiritual hierarchy in which man, though of earthly origin, carries a divine trust and responsibility.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized this dignity. He taught that every human is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) and bears the potential to fulfill their purpose as a servant of Allah and custodian of His creation.
The Purpose of Creation
Allah did not create man in vain. The Qur’an states clearly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, 98:5).
Another profound verse underscores that life was not created aimlessly:
“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”(Surah Sad, 38:27).
These verses convey that creation is intentional, meaningful, and divinely ordained. The essence of man’s creation lies in his recognition of Allah, his conscious submission to the Divine Will, and his dedication to a life of worship, service, and ethical living.
Worship in Islam is not confined to rituals alone but extends to every aspect of human existence—how we earn, govern, lead our families, engage with society, and preserve the environment. Every righteous deed done with sincerity for Allah’s pleasure becomes an act of worship.
Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that true worship stems from knowledge of Allah and a heart that submits lovingly to His will. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah likewise stresses that man’s highest honor lies in fulfilling the purpose of servitude (`ubudiyyah) to Allah, which brings inner peace and divine elevation.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated this perfect balance of worship and engagement in worldly affairs. He was a husband, a leader, a statesman, and a worshipper who said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464)
Living in harmony with this divine purpose not only brings personal fulfillment but also collective peace. Conversely, neglecting it results in moral confusion, injustice, and spiritual emptiness.
Therefore, recognizing and living by our purpose is not a luxury but a necessity. It is the key to real success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
Fruitful Living
Trusting God with our anxieties (final)
Jesus not only instructs us not to worry — He explains why worrying is counterproductive to our well-being:
❖ Worry is blind. It refuses to learn from nature, history, or personal experience. Birds and flowers testify to God’s faithfulness. The history of Israel is filled with God’s miraculous provision — from Egypt to the Red Sea to the Promised Land (Deut. 8:14–15).
❖ Worry refuses to learn the lesson of life. Time and again, God has helped us bear the unbearable and overcome the insurmountable. He strengthens us even when we reach the breaking point — and keeps us from breaking.
❖ Worry is irreligious. It stems not from our external circumstances, but from a heart full of fear and distrust. Yet Scripture declares:“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
The antidote to worry: El shaddai
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” One of the most comforting names of God is El Shaddai, which first appears in Genesis 17:1 and appears 218 times in the Bible.
❖ El means “Strong One.”
❖ Shaddai means “The Breasted One.”
Together, El Shaddai paints a picture of God as:
❖ Our Strong Nourisher
❖ Strength Giver
❖ Satisfier
❖ All-Bountiful Supplier
❖ Fulfiller of Needs
❖ The Life-Giver who brings dead things back to life
(e.g., Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac at 150 and 90 years respectively)
In knowing who God is, we find the courage to release our anxieties. If He is truly El Shaddai — strong, sufficient, and sustaining — then we are safe in His hands.
Practical steps to peace
In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a divine prescription for peace:
1. Stop being anxious and fretful. Recognize the emotional and spiritual toll of worry.
2. Go to God in prayer about everything. Nothing is too big or small.
3. Pray for yourself. God is your Father — your relationship with Him is personal.
4. Thank Him as you pray. Gratitude builds faith and reminds us of His past faithfulness.
When we do this, God’s peace — not the world’s peace — will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
CONCLUSION
We are living in uncertain times. Pressures abound and anxieties easily multiply. But as children of God, we are called to walk a different path — one of quiet confidence, steady trust, and daily surrender.
God’s Word is clear: worry doesn’t help — but trust in God brings peace. Let us shift our focus from fear to faith, from anxiety to adoration. Let us anchor our hearts in the unchanging character of El Shaddai — our Almighty God — and rest in His perfect care.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
