The Stoplight Test: Did You Just Drive Past Jesus?

The Stoplight Test: Did You Just Drive Past Jesus?

In our daily hustle, we encounter countless moments that challenge our values and beliefs. These moments often come when we least expect them, at the crossroad of an ordinary day. But what happens when we realize that these mundane encounters are, in fact, divine appointments with higher purposes? 

The Stoplight Moment

Picture this: It’s the end of a long day, and you're stopped at a red light. Stress fills your mind with thoughts of bills, emails, and that lingering conversation you wish you could forget. Then you notice them—a person on the street corner holding a cardboard sign. Your eyes meet briefly, and an uncomfortable knot forms in your stomach. It’s a blend of guilt, pity, and an urge to help, stifled by a stronger desire to suppress the feeling. 

Most of us face such intersections with avoidance, but what if these moments are opportunities to engage with something far greater? What if that person isn’t just a stranger in need, but a representation of Christ Himself? 

Understanding the Need

In the United States alone, more than 770,000 people experience homelessness, a number that has risen sharply. Too often, society writes off these individuals as victims of their choices rather than a housing crisis, mental health issues, or system failures. But Scripture tells us to see them through a different lens—a challenge to soften our hearts against growing numbness. 

Stories of Response: Mark and Sarah 

- Mark's Tale: Mark's hectic day ends at a red light. He avoids eye contact with the man on the corner, rationalizing his inaction with thoughts of futility. When the light turns green, he leaves with a hollow ache, missing an encounter with the divine. 

- Sarah's Choice: Conversely, Sarah pauses. Despite her own exhaustion, she sees the individual and asks for guidance. Her decision to offer food and kindness transforms a mundane moment into a reflection of Jesus’s teachings about mercy and compassion. 

Lessons from Scriptures

Jesus taught us to care for "the least of these," framing these acts of mercy as interactions with Him. Through stories like the Good Samaritan, He illustrates the call to action, compelling us to see beyond stereotypes and statistics to the individuals before us. 

Compassion, Jesus taught, is an essential expression of faith—not optional for super Christians but a command for all who follow Him. 

Practical Steps

While grand gestures are commendable, Jesus values small acts of kindness as significant in heaven. Here’s how you can integrate these lessons into your daily life: 

1. Create a Compassion Moment Weekly: Ask God for someone you can help, whether it’s buying a meal for a stranger or being present for a lonely colleague.

2. Compassion Kit: Keep a simple kit in your car—water, snacks, gift cards—to share when opportunities arise.

3. Family Discussions: Encourage your family to talk about compassion, shaping future generations to respond to need with open hearts.

4. Pray for One: Reflect on times you might have turned away, praying for those individuals and committing to act differently next time.

5. Align Your Life: Ensure your church life reflects in everyday actions, showing the same Jesus beyond Sunday mornings.

Conclusion

Every time we extend our compassion, we get closer to living a life Jesus calls us to—a life where our actions manifest our faith. These moments at stoplights, grocery stores, or on busy streets have the potential to bring us closer to divine love and service.  

Call to Action 

Join our community at truthunveiledwithralph.com/join for more resources on integrating compassion into your life, and together, let's be a movement of people who don't just drive past Jesus, but stop to meet Him in the faces of those around us. 

In these ordinary moments of intersection, may we always choose to see, to act, and to reflect the love that Jesus extends to us.