General News of Thursday, 21 December 2017
Source: ghananewsagency.org
2017-12-21
Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the CCG
The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has urged Ghanaians to empty themselves of the preoccupations of life and consciously create space for God in their lives as the world celebrates Christmas, a period set aside to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ.
The Council is also asking Ghanaians “to offer their hearts as that ‘manger’ where Christ would be born”.
“Christmas must convey the consciousness that God was always seeking opportunity to bring His presence among us, and we must create space in our hearts and lives for His Presence. That God consciousness should not elude us in the celebration of Christmas” a release has noted.
The release signed by the Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the CCG and copied to the GNA on Thursday, said if Christians did not create space for God, they would miss “His presence and lose the essence of Christmas.
“Our nation must be conscious of God’s presence among us in every sphere of our lives,” it urged.
The release said this year’s Christmas celebration offered Christians, another opportunity to reflect on how they could allow Jesus to be in their hearts.
It recounted Luke 2:6-7 account on the birth of Jesus Christ which stated that, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” It said the earthly parents of Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph were not given room to deliver the baby Jesus as the guest rooms were occupied and the people could not find a space for “Mary’s Son because they were not conscious of the fact that the baby was God’s gift to them and to the whole world”.
“That consciousness eluded them and so they missed the presence of God. The manger which Joseph and Mary found became the dwelling place of God’s presence among the people”.
The release urged Ministers of the Gospel to use the Christmas season to reflect on the scriptures and facilitate the formation of the God Consciousness in the hearts of their members during “this Christmas and beyond”.
“They must prepare their members to embrace the season with prayer and deep reflection on how they can make their hearts the home of Jesus Christ,” it noted.
“We wish all Ghanaians the best of the season and call for modesty in all that we do during the Christmas festivities”.
