Paying it Forward for God's Glory - Ruth L. Snyder

Have you taken part in Pay it Forward Day? Maybe you paid for someone’s meal in a restaurant or shovelled someone’s sidewalk. It is fun to do kind deeds for others without them knowing who did them. That is a good start. But as Christians, I believe we should pay it forward, especially to those who are difficult for us to love, for God’s glory EVERY day. Come along as I explore what Scripture has to say.

Matthew 5 begins with the beatitudes, introducing us to God’s perspective, which is often the opposite of the way we think and act as human beings. Jesus then challenges his followers in several areas:

• Be salt and light, drawing others to Jesus by your positive example (vs. 13-16)
• Fulfil the law instead of abolishing it (vs. 17-20)
• Resolve conflicts without the all too common “solutions” of murder or going to court (vs. 21-26)
• Do what is necessary to discipline your mind and body (vs. 27-30)
• Avoid divorce (vs. 31-32)
• Say what you mean and do what you say (vs. 33-37)
• Serve others instead of getting revenge (vs. 38-42)

And at the end of the chapter, Jesus sums it all up by telling his followers to love their enemies.

Instead of retaliating, Jesus told his disciples to pray for those who persecute them. Jesus said if we are kind and loving to those who are kind and loving to us, we have done nothing noteworthy. To make his point, Jesus pointed out that even the tax collectors, who were deceitful and looked upon as despicable, loved people who loved them. 

As Christians, we have a new standard to follow—we are to be perfect, even as God is perfect.

Helps Word Studies says we are to be, “... mature from going through the necessary stages to reach the end goal.”

Every day we make hundreds of choices. As we grow in our walk with God, more of those choices should reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. (Remember the examples in Matthew 5?) However, it doesn’t take long for most of us to figure out we CANNOT be perfect, at least without God’s help. 

Isn’t it ironic that God gives us the impossible task of being perfect so we will rely on him alone to do the work he has given us to do? When we live this way, others will see a difference in our lives and God’s love flowing through us will draw them to God. We will rely on God alone and giving him the glory because it will be obvious that God accomplished the impossible through us.

So, how about it? Will you join me in paying it forward, especially to those who are difficult to love, for the glory of God?