Will You Stop For People?
Last weekend, I got to meet one of the coolest Senior Pastors ever….the Harley-riding leader of a church involving 6,000 people each week. With three services, nine new church plants and a growing staff, this man finds time to be a Radical Mentor to not one, but two groups of younger men. He thinks making disciple-makers is important….important enough to model it for his church.
Within seconds of shaking hands, he asked me a question…
“Who is the most important person in the world?”
Since I’m the one who’s usually asking brain-freeze questions, I was taken back. I looked puzzled. I looked away. I mumbled. I coughed. I faked a sneeze….
“The person you’re with right now” he said, letting me off the hook.
A few minutes later, he was on stage explaining to the Sunday crowd how Jesus stopped for people. And how we must too.
Jesus stopped for the woman at the well, the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed, the Roman Centurion with the sick servant, the horizontally-challenged tax collector up in a tree, the ten lepers, the little children and a bunch more. Even when Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem the last time… to be tortured and killed, He stopped and gave sight to a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. (Mark 10). Jesus stopped for people.
And these weren’t “important” people. Some were sick, others were outcasts. Some were dishonest cheats. Almost none of the people Jesus stopped for could do Him any good. He didn’t scratch their backs so they would scratch His. He just stopped.
Jesus even engaged the crowd to help people come to Him. It’s like Bob Goff putting his cell phone number in the back of his book. Jesus invited people to bring those in need to Him. As Pastor Joe said, Jesus wanted those around Him to be ushers, not bouncers.
And it wasn’t because Jesus was in need of information. He knew what each person needed before they asked. But all the same, He stopped…faced them…loved them….no matter how busy He was.
He continues to this day. Whenever we pray and call out His name, He stops for us. Listens to us. Cares about what we care about, especially when we’re in it for others.
I’ve had two tests on this in the last few days. As I drove home (with no time pressure), I passed a lady with a flat tire. I finally talked myself into stopping. I turned around, drove back and offered to help. She nicely told me she’d rather wait for AAA than have me jack up her car.
But a few days later, I’m late for an appointment when I see a lady stranded in the middle of an intersection. A six-lane road…I’d have to go up two red-lights, do a u-turn, come back by, do another u-turn, and then stop in the middle of the road. And there’s no shoulder to pull over on. I’d already held someone up 15 minutes so I didn’t stop. I drove on to my appointment. (When I came back by 30 minutes later, her car was gone).
The difference in the two situations came down to one thing… how much time I perceived I had.
Jesus knew He had little time left in His life, not just His day.
Yet He stopped.
I can talk all day about loving God, but if I don’t do what Jesus did and focus on the person who’s right there in front of me, I’m missing out on the chance to be the eyes and smile, the hands and feet of Jesus. But to focus on them I have to stop.
I want to be a person who stops for people. Like Jesus did.
Note: If you’re ever in Spokane, check out Life Center Church. Introduce yourself to Pastor Joe Wittwer. I’ll betcha’ a dollar he stops for you!
Question: Do you stop for people? If you’d like to share, please comment here.
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Responses (8)
Great reminder!! Thanks for stopping into my life!
Thanks Regina…it’s my joy to be a mentoring evangelist along side you!
Your blog post reminds me of a quote from Craig Groeschel in his book “Weird”: “Wherever you are, be all there.” How many times have I found myself in a conversation with someone where my mind is elsewhere, and I miss some or all of what they are saying to me? Especially with my wife and/or kids!
I keep hearing about that book. I think I better read it!
Hey Regi,
Thanks for the shout out and for calling me cool! 🙂
And thanks for stopping to hang out with us at Life Center…really enjoyed my time with you! (And the bike ride was awesome!)
Joe
You ARE cool and I hear God is especially fond of you!
Regi, thanks for coming to Spokane. I’m the guy you referred to as the “CPA with a lobotomy.” You recommended I read “Kisses From Katie”….. sounded like a junior high romance novel, and I have to admit that I was worried that I would have to get an estrogen injection when I went in to our local Christian book store and asked for it.
Just wanted you to know It was a FABULOUS read….thanks !! (and your money is safe)
Barry
Thanks Barry. We’ve given out a dozen copies of that book. So, when will the “CPA with a lobotomy” be heading to Uganda?