Pay Back or Pay Forward
Good Morning Friends,
Are you useful for the Kingdom of God? Would you be recognized as one of His disciples through your actions? Today’s devotional I hope gives us some insight into honoring those who have left a legacy in us, those who have died but given us so much before we could repay them. The answer to this dilemma and to honoring Jesus is found in His command that we love one another. Honoring the how of the love is the tough part. That is where the concept of paying it forward comes into play…the concept of asking that a good turn or debt be repaid by having it done or paid to others instead of claiming it for ourselves. Jesus’ example on this is consistent…He loved His disciples as a servant, washing their feet. He died for the sins of the world and we can’t pay that back. But in response to this unpayable debt we can love one another…even our enemies. Notice that the focus is forward. As further guidance Jesus
also said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” You may remember about Lot’s wife and the severe consequence for looking back. Even a glance is deadly. You cannot plow a straight field if you look back. You cannot sail a straight course if you look back. You cannot love with usefulness unless you are looking forward. There is absolutely no reward for the Kingdom in a look back for a pay back. So you have a choice on your focus…Past or Future… Pay Back or Pay Forward.
Scripture: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
John 15:12-17(NRSV)
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13: 34-35 (NRSV)
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62 (NRSV)
When they had brought them outside, they said, “Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed.”
Genesis 19:17 (NRSV)
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 (NRSV)
Message: Obedient and loving actions in the moment honor the spirit of Jesus as we learn to forgive our debtors and give to Christ by giving to others. Friends, if you want to do something for God you will find a way; if you do not you will find an excuse. Most of us have a problem of facing our fear of commitment. So screw up your courage and act. Christ knows your heart and he knows that you and I sometimes want to follow him on the cheap. The whole story of the Bible is about God longing to have a personal friendship with human beings. It became a very expensive proposition. To prepare ourselves to pay it forward we need to develop our friendship with God by spending time abiding in the best friend we can have…Jesus. Taking this into the world as an act of kindness, even for a stranger who needs a friend, can cause a positive ripple effect restoring our faith in the love and growing the compassion of the human spirit. So are you all in or still looking over your shoulder? Or are you ready to surprise someone today with love paid forward?
Pray we keep following Jesus and never look back. Pray we are moving forward in our faith. Pray we are motivated to pray because we believe that God enjoys having us in His presence and delights in listening to me and you. Pray we abide in Jesus in prayer. Pray we abide in the Word asking for those things God has promised. Pray we abide and meditate on the love of God asking that his will be revealed. Pray we count prayer as a privilege. Pray we take all our sorrows and weakness and temptations and grief and take it to the Lord. Pray we find solace in the comfort of a friend. Pray we be a faithful friend to each other and never stop following Jesus on the journey. Pray the fruits of our labors are enjoyed for generations to come. Pray we become a life changed so others might see the light. Pray our existence is magnified as we sail beyond the horizon living the dream we were born to be.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 