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Guest Post Ephesians 5:1-2 (AMP)Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.This verse carries a message for our time as it should always have done. It asks the question, what makes it different, and why now? It asks us to look and question ourselves about our own example we have set in the past and begs for change. It also lets us reflect why it is so pertinent for us now.One of the metaphors illustrating the words,  setting an example of love could read “Love is a battlefield. Love is simple, but people make it complicated.”  It is one of the realizations we have come to during this time of Covid-19.  Jesus on the other hand is asking us to imitate Him as He imitates the Father, and He calls us well-beloved children. It calls for a continual walk, and I pray we will not forget the changes it brought in our own lifestyle of care and awareness for others too soon.Scripture highlights for us the how: practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others. It states that Christ also loved you and me and gave Himself up for all of us (no exception), an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.Christ’s life left a fragrance (a sweet aroma) in His walk on earth.  And so it is incumbent on us that we ought to also value our brothers and sisters (especially those in need and ostracized) and become an offering and sacrifice made to God through our actions.This time of Covid-19 has emphasised for us to repeat (continually) and not forget His example. To my brothers and sister in Christ at New Harvest,Shalom, Herman Groenewald

Two days ago we looked at the fact that God thinks about us and cares for us based on Psalm 8. But have you ever taken the time to ponder on what exactly God thinks about you? I ask because I believe we can fall into a trap of believing that God thinks negatively of us even after we have believed in Jesus and have been welcomed into the family of God. The idea for today’s blog began upon reading these words by Matt Chandler while doing research for Sunday’s sermon:“You will not experience the joy of God’s grace and kingdom if you think the King is always disappointed in you. He is working on you, growing you, shaping you under the banner and covering of his love. He doesn’t need you to get your act together. He is helping you get your act together. This doesn’t mean we don’t repent of sin. This doesn’t mean sin doesn’t grieve our hearts. This is not permission to walk in rebellion. God disciplines those he loves. It does mean God is for you, not against you. He loves you.”Those last words, “It does mean God is for you, not against you. He loves you” really stood out to me.  I must admit that I can sometimes find myself in a dark place spiritually and actually believe the lie that God either doesn’t care for me or doesn’t think much of me – but this couldn’t be any further from the truth! While God thinks many amazing things about us, one that I really felt I needed to share with you today is this:“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” – 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT) When God looks at you He thinks of you as valuable – so much so that He paid the ransom to save you from your sins with the precious and innocent blood of His Son, Jesus. Just let that sink in for a minute – God thinks of you as that valuable – wow. Be encouraged today knowing that you are thought of as valuable and allow that to impact how you live in the present. Strive to live as a valued one and honor God in light of this incredible truth.Much love,Luke

I'm part of a WhatsApp group called "Believers Daily Bread" a group consisting of Christians from all different denominations around South Africa, and even further afield in Africa. I don't always look through all the messages shared on the group but occasionally the Lord highlights a certain verse or message. This morning two such verses stood out to me. The first was Isaiah 43:2 which I'll share here with a portion of its surrounding verses:Now this is what the Lord says—the one who created you, Jacob,and the one who formed you, Israel—“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by your name; you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you,and the rivers will not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be scorched,and the flame will not burn you.3 For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, and your Saviour.(Isaiah 43:1-3a CSB) Image Credit - https://www.fullofeyes.com The wonderful thing about God's promise here is that He has already backed it up. The hearers of this message would recall how the Lord mightily delivered His people from the Egyptian army by creating a way through the waters of the Red Sea. They would have recalled the story of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (more commonly known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) who were cast into the raging furnace and yet were not even singed by the flames as there was another in the fire with them. I love the point that was shared along with this verse in the WhatsApp chat: "He did not remove the Red Sea but He made a way in the Red Sea. He did not stop Shadrach, Mesah and Abednego from going into the fire but went into the fire with them."God hasn't removed the Coronavirus pandemic and all it's ramifications, but He is with us in the midst of it. He will walk with us through it. How do we know this? Because God keeps His promises. This is the other verse that really stood out to me this morning, the one that speaks about what God has promised:“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5 AMP)God BlessGraham

We have been going through a selection of the Psalms at our Friday evening youth discussions online via Discord. This past Friday we looked at Psalm 8 and this is what I want to share with you today. This is what Psalm 8 (NLT) says:1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!    Your glory is higher than the heavens.2 You have taught children and infants    to tell of your strength,silencing your enemies    and all who oppose you.3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—    the moon and the stars you set in place—4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,    human beings that you should care for them 5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God    and crowned them with glory and honor.6 You gave them charge of everything you made,    putting all things under their authority—7 the flocks and the herds    and all the wild animals,8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,    and everything that swims the ocean currents.9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!While we could spend a lot of time analysing and studying every aspect of this Psalm, there are only a few things I want you to know today. Please know that regardless of what type of day you have had or what you are currently going through in life, whether good or bad, God has thought about you today. The God who created the universe, whose fingerprints are clearly evident in the sky through his marvellous creations, has thought about you personally. Not only has He thought about you, He has also cared for you because you are created in His image. You are an image bearer of God and you are valuable because of this fact. Have you ever wondered about the greatest way in which God has ever shown His care for humanity? Take a look at what Hebrews 2 (NLT) says:9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honour.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. 10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. 11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. If you want to know just how much God cares about us we need to only look at Jesus and what He did for us and secured for us when we believe in and follow Him. God loves you, thinks about you and cares for you. Much Love,Luke