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.

Opening Your Eyes to See

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

November 9th Sermon, Day 1

Have you ever walked down a busy street, completely absorbed in your phone or your thoughts, only to realize later that you missed something important happening right beside you? We live in a world full of distractions, and it's surprisingly easy to become blind to the needs around us.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us about three people who encountered a man beaten and left for dead on a dangerous road. The first two - a priest and a Levite - saw the wounded man but chose to pass by. They weren't blind; they simply chose not to truly see.

Seeing requires more than just having functioning eyes. It requires intentionality, compassion, and a willingness to be interrupted by the needs of others. When we rush through life focused only on our own agendas, we miss the divine appointments God places in our path. The beautiful truth is that God wants to use you to be His hands and feet in this world. But it starts with seeing - really seeing - the people around you. The lonely coworker, the struggling neighbor, the overwhelmed parent at the grocery store. These aren't just random encounters; they're opportunities for you to reflect God's love.

Today, ask God to give you eyes to see. Slow down enough to notice the people He places in your path. You might be surprised at how many opportunities for compassion surround you every single day.

Bible Verse

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" - 1 John 3:17

Reflection Question

What distractions in your daily routine might be preventing you from truly seeing the needs of people around you?

Quote You can't help what (and who) you don't see.

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to see the world as You see it. Help me slow down and notice the people You place in my path. Give me a heart that is sensitive to the needs around me and the courage to respond with Your love. Amen.

Eternal Rewards for Temporary Troubles

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

November 2nd Sermon, Day 5

Heaven keeps record of every tear, every trial, every act of faithfulness. Nothing that you do for Christ is ever wasted, even when it seems like your sacrifices go unnoticed or unappreciated. The temporary troubles we face for following Jesus are building something eternal that far outweighs any earthly loss.

This eternal perspective is what sustained the early Christians through intense persecution. They understood that their present sufferings were producing an eternal weight of glory that couldn't be compared to their temporary troubles. They lived with the knowledge that heaven's applause is greater than earth's approval.

When we face criticism for our faith, when we lose opportunities because we won't compromise, when relationships suffer because we choose to follow Jesus, we're not just enduring hardship – we're investing in eternity. Every act of faithfulness, every stand for truth, every choice to love when it's costly is being recorded in heaven's ledger. The world's rejection is temporary, but your reward is eternal. The pain you feel today will pass, but the crown you're earning will last forever. The relationships that end because of your faith will be replaced by eternal fellowship with those who share your values. The opportunities you lose will pale in comparison to the opportunities waiting in God's kingdom.

This doesn't minimize the real pain of persecution, but it does put it in perspective. When we remember that we're not just living for today but for eternity, we can endure temporary hardship with hope and joy. We can face opposition knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Bible Verse

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - 2 Corinthians 4:17

Reflection Question

What temporary sacrifice or difficulty are you facing because of your faith, and how does viewing it through the lens of eternity change your perspective?

Quote Heaven keeps record of every tear, every trial, every act of faithfulness. Nothing that you do for Christ is ever wasted.

Prayer

Father, help me to keep my eyes fixed on eternity when temporary troubles threaten to overwhelm me. Remind me that You see every sacrifice, record every tear, and will reward every act of faithfulness. Give me strength to persevere, knowing that my reward is secure in You. Amen.

Responding With Grace Under Fire

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

November 2nd Sermon, Day 4

How we respond to persecution reveals more about our character than the persecution itself. When faced with hostility, criticism, or rejection, we have a choice: we can respond with bitterness and retaliation, or we can respond with grace and love.

Jesus calls us to the latter, and it's one of the most powerful witnesses we can offer. When you respond to hostility with humility, you reveal Christ to the world around you. You actually disarm other people by choosing love over anger, blessing over cursing, prayer over revenge. This doesn't mean being passive or allowing yourself to be mistreated, but it does mean responding in a way that reflects Jesus' character.

This kind of response is supernatural. It goes against every natural instinct we have. When someone attacks us, we want to attack back. When someone criticizes us unfairly, we want to defend ourselves aggressively. But Jesus modeled a different way – a way that transforms enemies into friends and turns persecution into opportunity. Every insult, every rejection, every false accusation can become a badge of honor when we respond with grace. Not because we enjoy suffering, but because our response demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel. People may reject our message, but they can't argue with a life that consistently shows love in the face of hatred.

This doesn't happen overnight. It requires daily surrender, constant prayer, and regular reminders of how Jesus responded to His persecutors. But when we get it right, even our enemies have to acknowledge that there's something different about us – something that can only be explained by the presence of Christ in our lives.

Bible Verse

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." - Romans 12:14

Reflection Question

Think of someone who has criticized or opposed you because of your faith. How can you practically show them grace and love, even if they continue to oppose you?

Quote When you respond to hostility with humility, you reveal Christ to the world around you. You actually disarm other people by choosing love.

Prayer

Jesus, You showed perfect grace even to those who crucified You. Help me to respond to opposition with the same spirit of love and forgiveness. Transform my natural reactions and help me to bless those who persecute me. Amen.

Heaven Welcomes When Earth Rejects

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

November 2nd Sermon, Day 3

One of the most beautiful promises Jesus gives us is this: when the world shuts us out, God welcomes us in. When others reject us for our faith, heaven receives us with open arms.

This isn't just poetic language – it's a profound spiritual reality that can sustain us through the most difficult seasons. When you lose status here on earth because you won't compromise your values, you gain standing in the kingdom of God. When relationships become strained because you choose to follow Jesus, you discover a deeper relationship with Him. When opportunities slip away because you won't cut ethical corners, you find that God has better opportunities in store.

This doesn't mean the pain of rejection isn't real. It hurts when friends distance themselves, when family members don't understand, when colleagues question your decisions. Jesus never minimized this pain – He experienced it Himself. But He did promise that there's something greater waiting on the other side.

The kingdom of heaven operates by completely different values than the world around us. What the world sees as weakness, heaven sees as strength. What the world calls foolishness, heaven calls wisdom. What the world rejects, heaven embraces. This perspective doesn't make the rejection easier, but it does make it meaningful. Every closed door on earth can become an open door in heaven. Every relationship that ends because of your faith can deepen your relationship with God. Every loss can become a gain when viewed through eternal eyes. Remember, you're not just losing something – you're gaining citizenship in a kingdom that will never end.

Bible Verse

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10

Reflection Question

How can remembering your citizenship in God's kingdom help you navigate rejection or criticism you might be facing right now?

Quote When the world rejects you, heaven receives you. When others shut you out, God welcomes you in.

Prayer

Lord, when the world rejects me, remind me that You welcome me. When I lose standing here on earth, help me remember my secure position in Your kingdom. Thank You that Your acceptance matters more than anyone else's approval. Amen.