You Can Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward was a PG-13 movie that stuck with me. If you think one person can't make a difference, this movie will prove you wrong.

The premise is this: A social studies teacher challenges his junior high students to *pay it forward. The movie follows one student’s efforts to fulfill the assignment.

The unexpected result was that it blossomed into a national phenomenon. The basic idea is to do something for someone they can’t do for themselves. Then, instead of paying you back, they are to pay it forward.

Did you know there’s also a spiritual way to pay it forward? It’s found in Ephesians 4:32 NIV: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

One of my favorite books is by Zondervan Publishing called **Sometimes the Stones Are Very Lively. The stone reference can be found in 1 Peter 2:5, and the subtitle of this humorous little paperback is “The Visible Church Develops Christian Grace.”

Jean Shaw’s humorous book was written long before “pay it forward” became a slogan. Having been in church all my life, I found her stories delightful. I’ve lived through some of them. This little 121-page book now sits on my shelf held together with a rubber band.

People, in church and out, need to give each other grace. Very simply that would mean “unmerited favor.” You can’t earn it; it’s given out of the goodness of the giver’s heart.

Think about this: Be kind---and compassionate---to one another---forgiving each other---just as in Christ---God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

We could never repay God for His loving, forgiving grace toward us, but, rest assured, He’s happy to see us pay it forward.

*If you want to know the basic rules of the “Pay It Forward” movement, check it out on Wikipedia under the movie title.

**Sometimes the Stones Are Very Lively: The Visible Church Develops Christian Grace; Jean Shaw; Zondervan Publishing, 1976; can be found as a used book online.