Read: John 1:14, Romans 5:8
Have you ever been in line at Starbucks, just trying to get your one, simple cup of coffee, when the person ahead of you pays for it? “Pay it forward,” they say with a cheerful grin, leaving you no choice but to carry on this random act of kindness. But here’s the thing: while I was planning to buy my $5 coffee, I just signed myself up to pay for the order of the person behind me—a person who somehow thought it was appropriate to order five venti caramel frappuccinos with extra toppings. How is that fair? What started as a sweet gesture quickly feels overwhelming, unfair, and just plain exhausting.
Now, think about God’s grace—but with a much better ending. God’s “pay it forward” plan doesn’t leave us burdened or owing more than we could ever pay. Instead, it’s His radical kindness poured out for us with no strings attached.
From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to come to us. While other religions emphasize humanity’s effort to reach God, Christianity stands apart. God didn’t wait for us to climb toward Him—He came down to us. John 1:14 says that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. God didn’t shout from heaven, “Good luck getting here!” He stepped into the messiness of our lives, choosing to be near us even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
This truth changes everything. It means that no matter how far you feel from God, He is closer than you think. He came not for the perfect but for the broken, the weary, and the searching. His love isn’t something you earn; it’s a gift that invites you to stop striving and start resting in His grace.
What makes this so amazing is that we don’t “pay it forward” with God’s grace. He doesn’t ask us to settle the score because the score has already been settled on the cross. This is the beauty of the gospel: Jesus gave everything so we could experience His love, freely and fully.
Reflection Questions:
- How does the idea of God coming to you challenge your view of His love?
- What barriers have you felt when trying to connect with God, and how does His pursuit of you address them?
- How can you reflect God’s love by “meeting others where they are”?