Christmas presents, gift wrapping, travel planning, work wrap-up – Does your Christmas to-do list seem a mile high? Do you feel paralyzed by your list? Is there so much you have to do that you don’t know where to start? Peg Pickering, author of “How to Make the Most of Your Workday”, suggests putting the most difficult item, that is, the item you want to do least, first on your to-do list. Once you’ve tackled it the rest of your day will seem easy.
Scripture tells us that one of the most important Christmas tasks is also one of the most difficult for us to do. “Repent” John the Baptist cried out. Repenting is something we often want to avoid. Are you paralyzed by your long list of sins before God? It should cause us great fear. God must punish all who sin. My advice is to stop trying to avoid God and repent. Tackle the worst sin first. You know the one… confess it to God. He is merciful and forgiving. That is why he sent his one and only Son.
Think of the daunting to-do list with which the baby Jesus was born. It was recorded right in his name. The name “Jesus” was given to him because “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Thankfully, Jesus was not paralyzed with fear but resolutely accomplished the task before him one good work and one miracle at a time. In obedience to his Father he even surrendered his life at the cross for our sins. On the basis of this completed to-do list of Christ, God forgives you every one of your sins… even that big one. Forgiven!
Have a Merry Christmas, knowing that the most important to-do list has been completed! The gift of heaven is yours!
Pastor Kerkow