I have been a Christian since a radical encounter in the back row of a youth room in a Evangelical Lutheran Church. The year was 1989, I had bleach blond hair, a black leather jacket, cigarettes in the inside pocket, angry, rebellious, broken, but sitting in this youth room with these people I did not know. It was there that I heard God speak to me while listening to these people sing songs I had never heard before. He said, “I love you and I will never lie to you!” This was 36 years ago.

Praying Psalm 107 this morning sparked this memory and brought me through the timeline of my history with God. Going back to the beginning helps us realize how far we have come, how faithful He has been and how much we have been rescued from. The psalmist says in verse 43 “If you are truly wise, you’ll learn from what I’ve told you. It’s time for you to consider these profound lessons of God’s great love and mercy!”

One of the things I say and believe in my core is, “I must never forget where I came from, for in this, I will always be able to find the gold in others, no matter where they may be in their current situation.” The reflection was good this morning, for it causes love to bubble up in me for others, because of how deeply loved I am by the One who created me.

1 Corinthians 13 says, “If we have not love, it profits us nothing.” The very reason we are Christians is because God loved us, loves us, and will not ever not love us, and yet the church is known for many things, but love is not one many say about us. Maybe it’s time to remember who we used to be, so we can see how loved we are. When we know we are loved, loving others comes naturally. Love is the principle thing, love is the air we breath in the kingdom, love is what saves us, redeems us and restores us. But it is not just about being loved, it is about loving. We must learn to love again, for without love we can do nothing. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org