Summary
Service: Being Willing to Be Interrupted
- Continuing the spiritual formation series, Pastor Jonathan explained that serving others means allowing their needs to interrupt our plans—even when we are doing something important.
- Spiritual practices should shape us into people who love like Jesus, becoming more attentive to others rather than more rigid about our schedules.
The Good Samaritan: Becoming a Neighbor
- In Luke 10, a priest and a Levite passed by an injured man, while a Samaritan stopped, treated his wounds, and paid for his care.
- Jesus shifted the question from “Who is my neighbor?” to “Who can I be a neighbor to?” Love crosses social boundaries and costs time, resources, and personal convenience.
Jesus Made Time for People
- Jesus repeatedly stopped to respond to people while traveling, teaching, or carrying out His mission. When blind men cried out near Jericho, Jesus stopped and healed them despite the crowd’s resistance.
- Pastor Jonathan distinguished availability—serving when we have free time—from interruptibility—making room for someone when we already have plans.
- He humorously acknowledged his own struggle with interruptions, including becoming irritated when his children need help during his devotional time.
Serve Within Your Season
- Limits: Honor existing commitments to family, relationships, and responsibilities. Recognizing limits helps prevent burnout.
- Opportunities: Notice the people and needs God has already placed near you.
- Resources: Offer your skills, experience, time, and finances. Something you take for granted could change someone else’s life.
- God’s invitation often lies where these three overlap. We cannot say yes to everything, but we should remain open to meaningful opportunities.
The Invitation: Value People Over Productivity
- Service can look like giving a child undivided attention, listening to a coworker, honoring an overlooked employee, or mentoring someone.
- Pastor Jonathan shared a response he is practicing: “Yes, I’m busy, but let’s talk.”
- What feels like an interruption to us may be a moment God treasures. The goal is to develop a deep desire to love people well, allowing everyday encounters to become opportunities to show Jesus.
