Come, Rest Awhile

You’ve heard me say it before but it is that time of the year, the Christmas season, in which we seem to pass ourselves in the mall and traveling on the highways. I personally have seen myself in three to four airports across the country just in the last four weeks. During this time, I was in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina.

I am now preparing for trips to Washington, D.C. and Virginia, followed by an overseas trip to the Middle East. At this time of the year people often ask me, “How do you celebrate Christmas when you’re family is scattered to the wind and you’re out sleeping in the jungle somewhere?” Well, it’s easy. Wherever I am, I am home. I am often surrounded by people who love me in the name of Christ, which gives me an opportunity to love them in the name of Jesus. This leads to quite a celebration.

Try something different this year. Instead of getting caught up in the frenzy of the Christmas season and fretting because there isn’t enough time or money to accomplish all that you would like to do, focus instead on celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If this year you are not able to travel home or you are unable to host family for Christmas, you can still celebrate wherever you are because you are home with the Lord whether you are in America or in some remote location overseas. Shout hallelujah for the Christ child has been born!

Despite three intense years of ministry on the face of this earth, preaching, teaching and healing people, even Jesus recognized the need for rest. We often push ourselves to the limit, forgetting to get adequate food and rest, and the disciples were no different. In Mark 6:30-31 we read:

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

It is easy during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day to overeat, overextend our time and overindulge in all the fun festivities. If Jesus found it necessary to rest and take a break from daily activities, then how much more should we do the same, especially during this time of year?

Category: Scripture