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Remember Who You Are

    Edgar Latulip was twenty-one years old when he vanished from Kitchener, Ontario.  Gone without a trace for thirty years, his family assumed that he was dead.  Then in February of this year, Latulip solved his own cold case when he suddenly remembered his identity.  Police believe that a head injury that he suffered shortly after moving to St. Catherine’s, Ontario caused him to lose all memory of his past.  Eventually, a DNA test confirmed his identity and he was reunited with his family.
    Bad things happen when we forget who we are.
    In Exodus chapter six, Moses was sent to God’s people with a message of hope and help.  However, verse nine states, “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labour”.   Their circumstances caused them to forget about God and their relationship to him.  The fact that they did not remember who they were made them ignore the good news that Moses had for them.
    It is easy to forget our heavenly identity and focus only on our early struggles.  Thankfully, Psalm 34 gives us some good reminders and the proper perspective.   Space will not allow me to recount the entire Psalm, but hopefully a few key phrases will encourage you to read the rest of it for yourself.
    David begins by saying that he “Sought the Lord and he answered me” and that the “Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him” (verses 4 and 7).  This is the starting point.  God sees, hears and cares about us.  He has not gone away and left us alone.  Rather, he is with us and protects us.
    David then goes on to list the good things he has been given.  He has “good days” (verse 12) and lacks “no good thing” (verse 10).  In fact, he challenges his readers to follow God and see if it is a better way to live: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (verse 8).
    Lastly he proclaims that even our troubles can be used for our good because God will deliver us and make us even stronger because of them (verses 19-22).
    God loves, cares, sees, helps, protects, forgives and strengthens.  You are his child and he wants you to come home.
    Never forget that!

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