And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  Galatians 6:9 LSB

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 LSB

Christmas is a joyous time of year, but it can also be a time when our plates are piled way too high. I am speaking literally and metaphorically here. Not only are we tempted by just one more awesome dish or dessert, but we often find ourselves with just one more gift to buy, one more stop to make, one more party to attend, one more bill to pay and it can be overwhelming. Those “one mores” can add up and cause a lot of stress during the holiday season.

I’ve found myself in the last week a little overwhelmed by all that has to be done before Christmas. And as I began to prioritize, I realized the best way to do this was to keep in mind what was most important during this very busy time of the year. The most important item on our to-do list which should be included in all we do is to give God glory, honor and praise.

As Paul tells us in Galatians, we should not grow weary of doing good. As Christians, we should be doing good this holiday season. We should be providing comfort as best as we can for those who are suffering. We are told in 2 Corinthians 1:4 God comforts us in all our troubles so we can comfort others who are suffering. We do good when we comfort others.

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:19 to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We should be not only comforting others as God comforts us, but we should be going forth and making disciples of all nations. We should be sharing the gospel in hopes of leading others to Christ. We do this through our actions as well as our words. We do good when we try to bring others to salvation in Jesus Christ.

We are to love the Lord with all our heart, our soul, and our mind. When we do this, it is much easier to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We do good when we love the Lord and show God’s love to others.

So, in all of your hustle and bustle with just one more thing to do being a constant throughout the season, remember to do good. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators of Christ.

Paul says not to grow weary when we do good. If you find yourself growing weary, don’t give up. Jesus has the cure for our weariness in Matthew 11:28-30. We can come to Him and He will give us rest.

My friend, if you are weary and worn out from all the busyness of the holiday season, know there is rest in Jesus. He provides rest for our souls. Take his yoke and learn from Him. We do this through continual prayer and daily Bible study. He is gentle and humble; He will never think He is too good for dirty sinners like us. He will never be harsh or turn us away. And best of all, whatever He gives us to do, He will equip us with the energy and stamina to do it. And there is one other thing I’ve learned. He will make it pleasant and enjoyable.

When one more thing gets added to your to-do list, consider whether it’s something you really need to do. Is it something that gives the opportunity for you to serve God and show His love to others? Will it bring Him honor and praise? If not, maybe it’s something you don’t need to do after all.

And if you find yourself growing weary of doing good, don’t give up. Just turn to Him and He will give you rest.

Have a great day and a joyous Christmas season!