Make time (Advent Day 5)

Christmas draws nearer. The parties have started. The shopping rush is in full swing. The songs are on the radio. Carol services are beginning. The busyness is here.
So much to do. So many events to attend. So much cleaning to get done. So many cards to write. Too many presents to wrap.
And the busyness is so intense.
So so much to do.
So much happening. And so little time to do it. And so we are rushing. Rushing here. Rushing there. Trying to cram as much shopping into the day as we can. Living life full to the brim of festive activity. And in the midst of the busyness something has to give.
And sadly, so often, it is Jesus that misses out. We cut back on our quiet times and worship times and prayer times, right at the very time of the year when all our focus should be on Jesus like never before.
As we await and look to the birth of Jesus so often we get so caught up in the extra baggage we have attached to Christmas. Our lives are so full of the parties and preparations and festive activities we have no time for reflecting on Jesus, without whom there would be no Christmas season at all.
So this year let’s resolve to cut back, and focus more.
Let’s keep Jesus central, not squashed to to the sidelines. Christmas starts with Christ, and He should be at the centre of it all. This advent, as we await the return of Jesus, make time for Him. Make time for prayer. Make time for worship. Make time for reflecting. Make time to draw close to God, and remember that as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). At Christmas we remember the ultimate act of God drawing near to us – Jesus becoming man, coming down to us as a child, heaven touching earth in a crying, screaming baby who went through all the trials of life and ultimately died on a cross for us, God drawing near so we could be restored to Him. Jesus gave His all, and all to Him we owe. Where our sin had left a crimson stain He washes us white as the winter snow. So let’s not neglect Him this Christmas. Make time for Christ, the One who gave His all for us!