Don't Forget to Remember

This Sunday, we were blessed to have Stuart Watkins share a powerful and thought-provoking message about the importance of remembering God's goodness in our lives. His message reminded us of the incredible truth that God calls us to remember His gracious dealings with us and to live a life rooted in love for God, ourselves, and our neighbours.

The Call to Remember

The foundation of Stuart's message came from Psalm 103:

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." – Psalm 103:1-5

We were reminded not to forget God's forgiveness, healing, provision, protection, love, and mercy. The word "benefits" here can also be understood as "gracious dealings" – God's consistent and undeserved grace towards us.

Remembering is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, appearing over 550 times. From the Old Testament through to the New Testament, God calls us to remember what He has done, as seen in the practice of communion:

"And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" – 1 Corinthians 11:24

Practical Step: Consider keeping a prayer journal to write down moments of God's goodness. When storms come, you can look back and remember His faithfulness.

The Importance of Testimony

Sharing our testimonies is another way we remember God's work. A "testimony" is "God, do it again!" When we hear of God moving in someone else's life, we can reach out and believe He can do the same for us.

Loving God, Ourselves, and Our Neighbours

Stuart also challenged us to remember to love, drawing from the words of Jesus:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" – Matthew 22:37-39

Loving God

Loving God isn't just about feelings; sometimes it looks like obedience, other times like worship. It means spending time in prayer, reading His word, and living in a way that honours Him.

Loving Ourselves

We are called to love our neighbours as ourselves. If we struggle to love ourselves, it can impact how we love others. Stuart reminded us that comparison is often the thief of self-love. We must remember that we are:

"Fearfully and wonderfully made." – Psalm 139:14

Our mistakes and failures don't define us. The enemy may try to attach our shortcomings to our identity, but God reminds us that we are His beloved children.

"The awareness of our rubbish can become the soil that buries the diamonds in our lives."

Loving Our Neighbours

Love is powerful. In a world full of brokenness, people don't need more rules or judgment – they need love. Loving our neighbours is often met with challenges, but we must persevere.

Key Takeaway

God calls us to remember His goodness and live a life of love. Remember what God has done in the past to fuel your faith for the present and the future. And remember to love wholeheartedly – God, yourself, and your neighbour.

Let's commit to being a community that remembers well, loves deeply, and trusts God completely.

Have a blessed week!