Life is like a Starbucks Drive-Thru :)

Who's heard of the "pay it forward" trend? A person gets in the Starbucks drive-through line and orders a drink. As they go to pay, the barista tells them that their drink was already paid for by the person in front of them! Often this random act of kindness inspires another one and the person will in turn pay for the person behind them. We hear about these little acts of kindness a lot. They help to remind us that there is still some goodness in this crazy world we live in! However, have you ever heard of someone refusing to accept this gift? Someone who ordered a drink at Starbucks and drove to the paying window. They rolled down their window to pay, but the barista told them that the person in front of them had already paid! They shook their head in disbelief and decided that they wanted to pay for their drink anyways. The barista tried to tell them that their drink had already been paid for: he was debt free! This guy just wasn't having it though and insisted on paying himself too. So the drink ended up being paid for twice and the money was wasted. Doesn't that sound absolutely ridiculous?

Almost every human alive is living this reality. They are trying to "double pay" for their drinks. Of course I don't mean literally, I'm speaking metaphorically. Some time ago, we were all living in debt from our sins. We had worked up more of a bill to be paid than we could afford. We were all headed to that dooming cashier window without any means to pay for what we'd done! We had no money. Then when we got there, the barista told us that we didn't have to worry about it anymore: a man named Jesus had come through ahead of us had paid for everything! You would think that the natural response to hearing this would be to say "Wow! Thank you so much Jesus! You really saved me there! THANK YOU!" And then to maybe let that act inspire some kindness in yourself towards others! Who wouldn't want to accept this offer with gratitude?

However, almost every day we refuse to accept that our order has already been paid for. We get to the counter and hear that Jesus already paid, and then we say "Yeah yeah, I know. I'm going to pay too though anyways!" We do this when we continue to live as though we have to earn our own forgiveness. We "know" that we are forgiven in theory, but we're still living life as though we haven't been. It manifests differently in everyone. Maybe you mess up and even though you've been forgiven by God, you can't seem to forgive yourself so you are living in shame and guilt. Jesus paid for your sin already; let it go and don't "double pay." Maybe you don't feel worthy of God's forgiveness and love, so you constantly focus on being more perfect to "earn" it. Jesus already paid for you to become worthy; don't "double pay" by trying to earn it yourself. Maybe you've been wronged and are unable to let go of what has been done to you. Jesus paid for that sin against you already; He suffered so that you don't have to anymore. I know it's hard. but don't "double pay" for that sin by refusing to let it go. Maybe His offer seems too good to be true, so you're living your life as though He hasn't already paid your sins because you just can't quite believe it. Jesus did pay already; all He asks is for you to have faith in Him. You don't have to earn this amazing gift.

What are you trying to "double pay" for? What is keeping you from accepting that Jesus paid for everything? He suffered for every single sin individually SO THAT no one would have to suffer for them ever again. How hard it must be for Him to see as we all suffer needlessly for sins that have already been paid for! Of course sins still have earthly repercussions that don't just disappear when we've been forgiven, but living in that forgiveness instead of in shame will change your life. Jesus paid the price for everything already. We aren't even capable of paying our own way without Him; we just like to try! Stop trying to "earn it." Stop blaming yourself and living in shame. Stop rejecting God's offer of total forgiveness. Today try something new. Accept His forgiveness and clean slate in every area of your life. Roll up to that cashier window and say, "Thanks for paying Jesus! You're the best."

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Ephesians 1:7

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

JUST FOR FUN: Comment below your fav Starbucks drink! :)