Pay It Forward

      In the Western world, especially in North America, we are suckers for stories about people who do something extraordinary things, even though we would never expect it from them. We love the stories of Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and many different people who sacrifice their own comfort in order to benefit their fellow man. I also am a huge sucker for these stories.

      I just recently watched Pay It Forward with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. The movie is about a kid who is challenged by his Social-Studies teacher to do something which would change the world. In response, he decides to do great life-changing things for 3 people who would then have to go out and do something great for 3 others. This act of kindness is termed, paying it forward. Well without giving any more details about the movie which would spoil it for the rest of you (who I’m sure will run to the stores to rent it), I would just like to share that it changed the lives of people.

      Watching this movie got me thinking, “this is pretty gospelish.” There is something about this movie which seems to echo how Christians are to live and how the world just may eventually be changed. Now before you go off to rent this for your next family movie night, I warn you that there is profanity and sex (probably not the best for your 4 year old).

      Matthew 5:14-16 reads:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

      As Christians, we claim that we have been moved by the Gospel message, however there is usually very little in our actions which prove that to be the case. Our words are often very powerful but our lives are very weak.

      In the movie, there are important events which happen to people out of the blue and their lives are drastically moved. Out of that response, they go out of their way to change the lives of someone else in need. For you and me, we have been touched by what Christ has done. We have been changed by the fact that He became human to give us life eternally. Perhaps it is time for you and I to live a life where we learn to PAY IT FORWARD.

Making God Glad

This is the Feb 15, evening devotional from Charles Spurgeon's, Morning and Evening

Psalm 45:8
Whereby they have made Thee glad.

And who are thus privileged to make the Saviour glad? His church-His people. But is it possible? He makes us glad, but how can we make Him glad? By our love. Ah! we think it so cold, so faint; and so, indeed, we must sorrowfully confess it to be, but it is very sweet to Christ. Hear His own eulogy of that love in the golden Canticle: "How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine!" See, loving heart, how He delights in you. When you lean your head on His bosom, you not only receive, but you give Him joy; when you gaze with love upon His all-glorious face, you not only obtain comfort, but impart delight. Our praise, too gives Him joy-not the song of the lips alone, but the melody of the heart's deep gratitude. Our gifts, too, are very pleasant to Him; He loves to see us lay our time, our talents, our substance upon the altar, not for the value of what we give, but for the sake of the motive from which the gift springs. To Him the lowly offerings of His saints are more acceptable than the thousands of gold and silver. Holiness is like frankincense and myrrh to Him. Forgive your enemy, and you make Christ glad; distribute of your substance to the poor, and He rejoices; be the means of saving souls, and you give Him to see of the travail of His soul; proclaim His gospel, and you are a sweet savour unto Him; go among the ignorant and lift up the cross, and you have given Him honour. It is in your power even now to break the alabaster box, and pour the precious oil of joy upon His head, as did the woman of old, whose memorial is to this day set forth wherever the gospel is preached. Will you be backward then? Will you not perfume your beloved Lord with the myrrh and aloes, and cassis, of your heart's praise? Yes, ye ivory palaces, ye shall hear the songs of the saints!