National Discipline (II)

Introduction Today we bring to you the concluding part of our article on National Discipline. We said last week that the goal of discipline is to achieve both physical and spiritual righteousness that produces right thinking, right doing and ultimately right being. That is why God in His wisdom gave laws to His chosen nation Israel. The laws were to be the foundation of their physical and spiritual right being. The goal of the laws was to enable them to showcase to other nation's God's guidance, life would be a delightful relationship between people and God and people and people – so to say. Discipline is essential and national discipline critical. I am sure you have already dealt with definitions so I will not dwell on them except to quote from someone who puts national discipline in a perspective which Christians ought to take seriously and live by. He says that: National Discipline embraces a direct and continuous supervision of God over the events of a nation's history the shaping of these events to a well defined and beneficent purpose and the training of men by His own appointed means for accomplishment of that purpose. So from this definition we derive the fact that National Discipline should lead us, as Ghanaians to reach God's purpose for our lives. If this is the case then none should pursue the cause of National Discipline more diligently that the children of God – Christians.

I would like us to consider the need for laws to guide our nations and the need for Christians as a collective as well as individuals have the responsibility to ensure that thorough our active obedience to the laws of state we will build under God rather than the promotion of anarchy – yes anarchy because that is what it is. Where people flout laws and rebel against every rule because they think that democracy gives them the right to do so, there is anarchy.

The Judiciary
The courts are in an intrinsic part of maintaining national discipline. There must be timely and fair justice. We have all read about cases, especially land cases that have been in the courts for decades. Were justice is denied or deemed to be unfair, people resort to taking the law into their own hands thus creating a lot of indiscipline. Because of the perception of delays and injustice at the courts, many Ghanaians including Christians would either keep silent when we should not or bribe their way out of situations to avoid the processes of justice. We thank god that the head of the Judiciary is a daughter of the King of Kings and is allowing herself to be directed by Him. Let us uphold her and all like-minded justices and magistrates in our prayers so that they will bring true justice to the land. Beloved, life requires a disciplined approach and God wants to help us to bring discipline into our own lives and in the life of the nation.

Discipline is about Right Doing
Discipline is no about punishment, though punishment must sometimes be applied to bring correct. Discipline is about guidance towards a way of righteous living. Discipline is therefore, goal oriented – seeking to develop godly persons to develop godly nations that walks in God's ways. Biblical discipline emphasizes loving guidance and teaching. That is why in 1 Peter 2:9-10 the apostle Peter first describes who we are in Christ and the reason why God has made us like that. Verse 9 is so apposite - 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. Now that we live in the marvelous light of God, we must use the illumination we receive from Him to affect our nation for good.

Individual Responsibility
There must be individual Christian responsibilities because I am convinced that God has a leadership role of some degree and kind for each individual Christian. And then there is the responsibility of the Church to bring godly leadership into the affairs of the nation. That is the Prophetic role of the Church that and here let me say how glad I am that the Church has championed the re-inclusion of moral and religious education into the school curriculum. How can we build a disciplined nation without raising godly generations? As the body of Christ made up of the church as well as collective and individual Christians let me challenge us to repent of two things:

Pessimism – Yes we live in a fallen world, depraved and selfish BUT we must believe in the power of God to effect change – using, yes, even us. The perfection the world will come when Christ returns to rule but in the meantime, we are His instruments and channels of change. The power of God's people working as salt and light to change society. Let us renounce both naïve optimism and cynical pessimism and replace them with the sober but confident realism of the Bible – the Word of God.

Mediocrity – We need to repent of mediocrity and the acceptance of it. And here my appeal is especially to young people. Do not only contend with the mediocre – indeed hate it with a passion and do not settle for anything less than your full God-given potential. Let us be ambitious for God. God has made us unique individuals and gifted us with His spiritual gifts – His purpose is that we should be stretched in everything we are and do to bring about national discipline. Let us stretch ourselves to our ultimate best – we will not break because God is our helper – Isaiah 40:31: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Let us therefore subject ourselves to God's discipline so that we shall use our righteousness to impact our nation for good. Only through a disciplined nation can Ghana attain the full purpose of God. Let us therefore as the redeemed of God, His own special people, His holy nation, look beyond ourselves, seek His will with all our hearts, cry to Him to continue to give us clarity of what He is calling us to do with our lives as a church and as individuals in this dear nation and pray for grace to be faithful.

Let us apply 2 Chronicles 7:14 fully in our lives. - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Partners Get-Together 2009
Salt and Light Ministries (SALM) invites you to a special New Year Partner's Get-together to thank God for His goodness and ask for His guidance and protection for 2009.

Date: Saturday – 17th January, 2009 Time: 2:00pm Venue: Offices of Salt & Light Ministries – Abelemkpe, near Sollatek

It will be a time of sharing, so bring something to share with others – biscuits, cakes, drinks! See U! Stay Blessed