With paying it forward, we have to realize that we have something to be grateful for, and that we have received a blessing worthy of being returned.Then someone has to be unselfish enough to have given the blessing anonymously (perhaps as a random act of kindness) or to turn down the return blessing, not wanting it for themselves. The return blessing due to them is given to someone else instead, often with the instruction (upon being thanked or asked how to be repaid) that they also give to someone else down the line.
Like I said, these are not bad things to do. It does take turning down the volume of selfishness at least a little. It is a good thing, to be kind. It is necessary to recognize and be thankfulness for blessing and kindness in our lives from others. It does make us feel better to be kind and to bless others, even if our selfish nature tries to convince us it won't. But the problem is not that these concepts aren't a good way to live our life, it's that they are not enough.
Forget practicing random acts of kindness. Practice purposeful acts of kindness constantly. As Christians we are called to love, even our enemies, be kind one to another, and to do to others as we would like others to do to us. Do you like people loving, accepting, being kind, being helpful and blessing you, even when you haven't earned it? Love, accept, be kind to, be helpful to and bless others, not from time to time, not here and there, not randomly...purposefully and in every case and situation as the grace of God enables. Our calling to practice and share the loving kindness of our Heavenly Daddy is not a do this sometimes, when we feel like it, when we need a spiritual pick me up kind of calling. It is a do this in all things at all times as Jesus loved us and laid His life down for us love others kind of calling.
And if you're going to play the pay it forward game, be IT. After being IT, be co-IT. Never stop, and don't pass it on. What am I talking about? The principle behind pay it forward is that when we are blessed we pass it on. Cool. But I'm saying be the starting point, the instigator. Don't wait to be blessed. Even if no one is helpful or kind, be the service and kindness you wish to see in the world. We are not called to bless others when we have been blessed. We are called to bless others.
Today, let us be kind and loving and thankful and a blessing....no matter what happens to us first, in every encounter. Let us eliminate the randomness of love and purpose to love as Jesus purposed to love us.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment