Fruitful Living
Why Should I forgive others? (Part 1)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
CONFLICT is never easy—especially when it happens within the church. Many believers can relate to the heartache of strained relationships, misunderstandings, or even church splits.
Though these moments don’t make us lose our salvation, they often test our faith deeply. At times, the discouragement can feel so intense that quitting the Christian walk seems like a tempting option.
Yet, in Christ, we are called into a new kind of family—a family transformed by grace. We are to be peacemakers, reconcilers, and forgivers because we ourselves have been forgiven so completely.
Scripture doesn’t just call us to live in peace; it calls us to reflect the heart of Christ, the One who gave Himself for His enemies. The brief but powerful letter to Philemon offers timeless wisdom on this topic.
Living in grace
The Apostle Paul’s letter to Philemon is only 335 words in the original Greek, yet it carries profound lessons about grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Paul writes not as an authoritarian apostle but as a loving brother in Christ, appealing to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus—a runaway slave who had since become a believer.
Paul gently urges, “Though I could be bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you…” (Philemon 1:8–9). He pleads with love, not law. He even offers to pay any debt Onesimus owes: “If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to my account” (v. 18).
This is not “forgive and forget.” This is a real reckoning of wrong, met with real grace. Paul illustrates what Christ has done for all of us—He takes our debt and pays it with His own life.
Our identity in Christ
Paul emphasises that Onesimus has undergone a radical transformation. Once “useless,” he is now “useful” (v. 11)—a beautiful play on the meaning of his name. The point? In Christ, our identity is changed. We’re not defined by our failures or past offenses. We are made new.
Philemon, a slave master, is being asked to receive Onesimus not as property, but as a brother in Christ. This is a powerful call to the Church: we must see each other through the lens of our shared redemption. Grace transforms social structures, erases labels, and redefines our relationships.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee,
the author
Fruitful Living
Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 522) (Part 4)
This law created the Water Resources Commission (WRC) to manage Ghana’s water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and underground water. It ensures fair and sustainable use
of water resources and prevents their misuse or pollution.
Purpose: To protect water bodies and promote responsible access to clean water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.
Forests Protection Act, 1974
(NRCD 243)
This law was enacted to prevent illegal logging, forest encroachment, and bushfires. It empowers the government to declare forest reserves and penalise those who destroy or
degrade forests.
Purpose: To conserve Ghana’s forest cover, protect biodiversity, and promote reforestation
efforts.
Minerals and Mining Act, 2006
(Act 703)
This law regulates the mining sector in Ghana. It outlines the procedures for acquiring mining licenses, environmental obligations of mining companies, and penalties for illegal
mining (like Galamsey).
It mandates responsible mining that does not destroy the environment or pollute water bodies.
Purpose: To ensure that mining is done legally, safely, and sustainably, without harming people or the environment.
Land Use and Spatial Planning
Act, 2016 (Act 925).
This Act replaced earlier planning laws and provides a comprehensive framework for land development in Ghana.
It requires all building projects to comply with approved land-use plans and prevents construction in flood-prone areas, wetlands, and water courses.
Purpose: To promote orderly development of cities and towns, and to prevent environmental disasters like flooding.
Local Governance Act, 2016
(Act 936)
This Act gives Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) the power to manage environmental sanitation, waste disposal, and land-use control within their
jurisdictions.
Assemblies can issue by-laws to tackle local environmental problems.
Purpose: To make local authorities responsible for enforcing environmental cleanliness
and safety at the community level.
These statutes are essential tools in the fight against environmental degradation in Ghana. When enforced properly and supported by citizen awareness and Islamic environmental ethics they can lead to cleaner, greener, and safer communities for current and future generations.
Also, these laws provide frameworks for regulating land use, mining, forestry, water quality, and sanitation. Enforcement of these statutes must be strengthened to combat environmental abuse.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
Fruitful Living
Renewing our minds (Final)
The Bible is clear on what the mind of every man born into this sinful world is like. The psalmist describes it well: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” -Psalm 51:5. Such a mind acquires the sinful thoughts and feelings of the world into which it is born and also ends up being nothing but a sinful mind, which as stated clearly, “the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” – Romans 8:7.
By default, every one of us is wired to follow the world’s pattern, and none of us can on the basis of good intentions alone to have a godly mind and succeed on our own. Paul had earlier cried out his frustration: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” – Rom. 7:18-24.
Paul finds an answer in the same passage when he says “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Romans 7:25. Through our union with Christ, we become transformed by “the renewing of the mind” – Romans 12:2b.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO RENEW THE MIND
Paul’s counsel is clear, “do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, for “those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” -Romans 8:5. Therefore, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Some Biblical guidelines that are of immense benefit to those eager to guard the avenues of their minds and constantly renew are:
• Guard Your Eyes: “I will set before my eyes no vile thing…. I will have nothing to do with evil… My eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.” – Psalm 101:3, 6.
• Protect Your Ears: “Whoever slanders his neighbour in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure…. No-one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no-one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.”
-Psalm 101:5,7.
• Watch Your Mouth: “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.” Psalm 101:1. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. Exodus 20:16.
• Nurture Your Heart: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8
We need to be patient though because transformation into Godlikeness is a long process, and not a one-time act. It will come gradually and visibly as our mind is being renewed daily. It won’t be hidden, for when our minds start getting renewed, it will reflect in our speech and actions. People will see and note the change. They will see a drift away from the pattern of the world that we used to be in conformity with, and realise that a metamorphosis is taking place.
In conclusion, Paul says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8.
To Ponder: Frances Havergal, the writer of the hymn, “Live out Thy Life Within Me” penned the following words as part of the song: “Live out Thy life within me, in all things have Thy way! I, the transparent medium, Thy glory to display.” Is your mind being renewed daily, and can the world see through you to the display of God’s glory in you as you get transformed?
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
