Recognizing Jesus in Unexpected Places

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

December 28th Sermon, Day 4

Picture the scene: the temple in Jerusalem, bustling with religious activity. Priests performing ceremonies, families fulfilling obligations, religious leaders discussing theology. In the midst of all this spiritual activity, a poor young couple enters with their baby. Most people probably didn't give them a second glance—just another family going through the motions.

But Simeon and Anna saw something different. While others saw an ordinary baby from an unremarkable family, they recognized the Savior of the world. Their spiritual sensitivity allowed them to see Jesus when He came in humility rather than power, in weakness rather than strength.

This challenges us profoundly. Is it possible to be surrounded by religious activity and still miss Jesus? Absolutely. We can attend church, participate in programs, and even serve in ministry while failing to recognize Jesus when He shows up in unexpected ways. He often comes through humble service, through suffering, through people we might otherwise overlook. Jesus rarely shows up the way we expect. He comes in the homeless person asking for help, in the difficult coworker who needs grace, in the quiet moment of prayer when we're not looking for anything dramatic. The question isn't whether Jesus is present—it's whether we have the spiritual sensitivity to recognize Him when He comes in ways that surprise us.

Bible Verse

'And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God' - Luke 2:27-28

Reflection Question

Where might Jesus be showing up in your life in humble or unexpected ways that you haven't recognized?

Quote Will you recognize Jesus when he comes in unexpected ways? See, Jesus often shows up in humility, in suffering, in serving, and in people who we might otherwise overlook.

Prayer

Jesus, give me eyes to see You in unexpected places and people. Help me not to miss You because You come in humility rather than power. Make my heart sensitive to Your presence in all its forms. Amen.

The Art of Faithful Waiting

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

December 28th Sermon, Day 3

Waiting is one of life's most difficult challenges. Whether we're waiting for a job opportunity, a relationship, healing, or simply clarity about our future, the space between promise and fulfillment can feel endless.

But Simeon's story teaches us that waiting on God is never passive—it's an active posture of faith. Simeon had received a promise from God that he wouldn't die before seeing the Messiah. But that promise came with no timeline, no specific date circled on a calendar. For years, possibly decades, Simeon waited. Yet his waiting wasn't characterized by sitting at home hoping something would happen. He actively positioned himself where God might move, regularly showing up at the temple, staying alert and expectant.

When you're in a season of waiting, it's easy to become discouraged or to wonder if God has forgotten His promises to you. But Simeon's example reminds us that God's promises aren't forgotten—they're fulfilled at exactly the right time. Your job isn't to figure out the timing; it's to stay faithful where God has called you. If you're waiting on God today, take heart. Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep positioning yourself where God can use you. When you stay where God has called you, even when the wait is long, you will eventually see the fruition of your waiting.

Bible Verse

'Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.' - Luke 2:25

Reflection Question

In what area of your life are you currently waiting on God, and how can you make your waiting more active and faithful?

Quote Simeon teaches us that when you stay where God has called you, even when the wait is long, you'll eventually see the fruition of your waiting. If God's called you to something, you will see the fruition of it.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to wait on You with active faith. When the waiting feels long, help me to trust Your timing and remain faithful where You've placed me. Give me patience and hope as I wait for Your promises to unfold. Amen.

Finding God in the Ordinary

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

December 28th Sermon, Day 2

We live in a culture that celebrates the spectacular. We're drawn to the dramatic, the extraordinary, the Instagram-worthy moments. But what if God's greatest work often happens in the quiet, ordinary moments of faithful obedience?

When Jesus entered the world, He didn't arrive with fanfare or royal ceremony. Instead, He came through the ordinary faithfulness of a young couple following religious customs. Mary and Joseph weren't wealthy or influential—they were simply obedient to God's call on their lives. They showed up at the temple not for a grand revelation, but to fulfill routine religious requirements. This challenges our expectations about how God works.

We often look for Him in the extraordinary circumstances—the miraculous healings, the dramatic answers to prayer, the mountain-top experiences. But God frequently meets us in the ordinary rhythms of obedience: trusting Him when it's hard, serving others when it's inconvenient, praying when we don't feel like it, and simply showing up day after day. Many people miss Jesus because they're only looking for Him in spectacular moments. But He's present in the daily steps of faith, in the quiet acts of service, in the mundane moments of trust. Today, look for Jesus in your ordinary circumstances. He's there, working in ways you might not expect.

Bible Verse

'And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord' - Luke 2:22

Reflection Question

Where in your ordinary, daily routines might God be working in ways you haven't noticed before?

Quote Jesus enters the world not through spectacle, but through ordinary faithfulness. And that God's greatest work often unfolds in quiet obedience.

Prayer

Father, open my eyes to see You in the ordinary moments of my life. Help me to be faithful in the small things, trusting that You are working even when I can't see the spectacular. Give me patience to find You in the everyday. Amen.

What Are You Looking For?

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

December 28th Sermon, Day 1

Have you ever been asked what you're looking for in life? It's one of those questions that can catch us off guard because it forces us to examine our deepest longings. We might say we want success, happiness, or security, but underneath it all, there's often something we can't quite name—a restless searching for meaning and purpose. Many of us find ourselves in church week after week, participating in religious activities, yet still feeling like something is missing. We go through the motions of faith, but our hearts remain unsettled.

This isn't uncommon, and it's not something to be ashamed of. Even faithful people can find themselves searching for something more. The beautiful truth is that what we're really looking for isn't a 'what' at all—it's a 'who.' Deep down, our souls are searching for Jesus, even when we don't realize it. He is the answer to that unnamed longing, the peace our hearts crave, and the purpose we desperately seek.

Today, take a moment to honestly examine your heart. Are you going through religious motions, or are you genuinely seeking Jesus? There's no judgment here—just an invitation to acknowledge where you really are and to begin looking with fresh eyes. Jesus is waiting to be found by those who seek Him with sincere hearts.

Bible Verse

'And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.' - Luke 2:26

Reflection Question

If someone asked you today what you're truly looking for in life, how would you answer, and does your daily life reflect that search?

Quote One of the most revealing questions you can ask somebody is what are you looking for? Not just in an abstract sense either, but in life. What are you looking for? What are you hoping will bring meaning and peace and fulfillment and direction to your life?

Prayer

Lord, help me to be honest about what I'm really searching for. If I've been going through religious motions, awaken my heart to genuinely seek You. Show me that You are the answer to every longing in my soul. Amen.

Changed Lives During Ordinary Days

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

December 21st Sermon, Day 5

After seeing Jesus, the shepherds didn’t get new jobs or new circumstances. They returned to the same fields, the same sheep, the same responsibilities. But they were not the same people.

They returned glorifying and praising God. Encountering Jesus didn’t remove them from ordinary life—it transformed how they lived within it.

God often works the same way in us. He may not change our circumstances right away, but He changes our hearts within them. Joy replaces fear. Gratitude replaces routine. Purpose fills places that once felt mundane.

The Christmas story reminds us that meeting Jesus sends us back into our everyday lives—changed, hopeful, and ready to praise God wherever we are.

Bible Verse

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.”
—Luke 2:20 (NIV)

Reflection Question

How can your everyday life become a place of worship and gratitude today?

Prayer

God, thank You for meeting me and changing me. Help me live out my faith in ordinary moments, praising You in every season. May my life reflect the joy of knowing Jesus. Amen.