The Power of Stopping

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 9th Sermon, Day 2

Seeing is just the beginning. The priest and Levite in Jesus' parable both saw the wounded man, but they made a choice that changed everything - they kept walking. They had places to go, people to see, religious duties to fulfill.

Sound familiar? We live in a culture that celebrates busyness. We wear our packed schedules like badges of honor, rushing from one commitment to the next. But what if some of our most important moments happen when we're willing to stop? The Samaritan saw the same wounded man, but he made a different choice. He stopped. He didn't just feel bad and keep walking. He didn't promise to pray about it later. He interrupted his journey and engaged with the need right in front of him.

Stopping requires sacrifice. It means your schedule gets disrupted. It means you might be late to your next appointment. It means choosing someone else's urgent need over your own convenience. But here's what's beautiful about stopping: it's in these moments that we become most like Jesus. Jesus could have stayed in heaven, comfortable and undisturbed. Instead, He stopped His eternal existence to enter our broken world. He interrupted His divine agenda to meet our desperate need.

When we stop for others, we're following His example. Compassion isn't just a feeling - it's a decision to engage. Today, be willing to stop when God presents you with an opportunity to show His love.

Bible Verse

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." - James 2:17

Reflection Question

What would need to change in your schedule or priorities to make room for the unexpected opportunities God might place in your path?

Quote Compassion begins with seeing, but it requires stopping.

Prayer

Father, help me value people over productivity. Give me the wisdom to know when to stop and the courage to act when You present me with opportunities to serve. May my life reflect Your heart for others. Amen.