Read: Matt 5:14; Matt 25:31-46; Luke 6:38; John 13:14
Pay It Forward is a 2000 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was directed by Mimi Leder and written by Leslie Dixon. It stars Haley Joel Osment as a boy (Trevor McKinney) who launches a good-will movement, Helen Hunt as his single mother, and Kevin Spacey as his social-studies teacher. Young Trevor McKinney, troubled by his mother’s alcoholism and fears of his abusive but absent father, is caught up by an intriguing assignment from his new social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet. The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward–repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. Trevor’s efforts to make good on his idea bring a revolution not only in the lives of himself, his mother and his physically and emotionally scarred teacher, but in those of an ever-widening circle of people completely unknown to him.
After this movie, many organizations were formed and a movement started in the real world, based on this principle.
But guess what? It started way before that!
Jesus sharing with us this principle in His word. By showing us through His love and His attitude of servanthood.
John 13:14New King James Version (NKJV)
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Imagine how different our world would look if we gave the kind of love to others that Jesus showed to us here in this passage of scripture.
Today I challenge you to TRUST God in directing you to “pay it forward”. You might never know what impact for God you will have on someone’s life.
On Praise 106.5, often times they have these challenges for people to pay it forward, by paying for the next persons order in the drive thru. Just one idea that you might implement today. You might say I can’t afford to do that, but if God is asking you to do something, that might make you stretch your faith in Him, then do it. Because God is faithful, and TRUST in Him to supply for you, so that you might turn around and give.
Also don’t forget, that when that opportunity arises, to speak LIFE to those around you. Because often times we need to share Gods love in more than just our actions.
So go out today and TRUST in God and PAY IT FORWARD!!!!