|
Fellow
Ghanaians and all other nationals living in our beloved country, I bring you
seasonal
greetings on behalf of the Church of Pentecost.
The good Lord
who reveals Himself in practical ways as a real and living God who
identifies
with the fears, aspirations and desires of His people, has brought us safely
through
the challenges of the year 2009 to the threshold of 2010. Some of us may
have lost
very dear ones in the closing year, failed to attain set targets, or were let
down by
trusted friends. What is important is that we are alive and, therefore, are
still
candidates of God’s special favour in the New Year.
Fellow
Ghanaians, every aspect of our national life – from our natural and human
resources
to the socio-political stability enjoyed in the country – attest to this
country’s
special position of divine favour in world affairs. To enjoy the benefits
embedded
in this favour, we need to place our faith in God’s ability to change our
image
from that of a dependent nation into one of self-sufficiency. We would need
to renew
our psyche by developing a practical work ethic that would enable us
harness
our God-given resources to meet individual and national needs.
All workers,
both in the private and public sectors, must display their Christianity to
their
employers by their faithfulness, loyalty and commitment to duty. Frequent
absenteeism
for personal errands, playing at work and pursuing personal interests
during
working hours do not demonstrate the image of God. Professionals and
artisans
must be faithful to their clients.
I similarly
appeal to employers to portray Christ-likeness by treating their
subordinates
and domestic assistants with respect. In the same vein, house-helps
and other
attendants should do their best in the absence of their employers, as
doing
that demonstrates that they are true children of God who are being
transformed
into His image.
The goodwill
message of Christmas implies unity, respect and love for one another,
without
which our country cannot progress beyond its present state. Indeed, by
giving
Christ to the world at Christmas, God provided a solution to man’s sinful
nature in
Christ, as well as the privilege of seeing the image of God in humanity.
This is
the image Christ demonstrated in His interactions with the religious leaders
of the
gospels, by showing implicitly that meeting the needs of human beings is
more
valuable than religious beliefs, and that people are of greater worth than the
rules of piety.
We should learn from Christ’s example that holiness emanates from
acts of
love flowing from the heart.
As we enter
2010, we would need to rid ourselves of our filthy garb of mutual
suspicion,
back-stabbing, mistrust and the seemingly institutionalised “pull-him-
down” syndrome.
A nation that destroys its human resources through the
assassination
of their character condemns itself forever to the primitive state of
development,
instead of reaping the benefits of progressive development.
When we deny
and, therefore, reject the unique qualities and roles of others in our
national
aspirations, we unwittingly reject the very crucial contributions they bring to
bear on
the attainment of national goals. Ghana needs every gifted individual to help
sustain
our political stability and to propel the engine of economic development.
The Church of
Pentecost commends the government, members of parliament,
security
services, workers, students and all living within the country’s borders for
having
helped maintain the peace in 2009.
May the
goodwill message of the Christmas bind us together as one people with a
common
destiny, irrespective of our socio-political backgrounds, as we brace
ourselves
for the many good things God’s special favour has in store for us in the
year
2010.
Thank you.
God bless the
Government and people of Ghana
God bless
Ghana.
|
