Notes
This Christmas season, take a moment to breathe. In the midst of busyness and chaos, make room for God. Pause and create space for the Creator to refresh and guide you.
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
As the Church, we’re called to ministry, but it’s impossible to refresh others if we haven’t been refreshed ourselves. Part of doing God’s work is knowing when to pause and let Him speak to your heart. This balance between sitting and listening to God, and getting up to take action, is essential. After hearing from Him, we must rise and do something with what He’s revealed to us.
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Luke 10:30-37
1) Be a Looker
Open your eyes and your heart to see the needs around you. Pay attention to the people God places in your path who need His love and compassion. Look beyond the surface to recognize the opportunities God has given you to make a difference.
2) Be a Lifter
Just as the Samaritan lifted the injured man onto his donkey, we are called to lift others out of their burdens. People carry unseen wounds, trauma, and heavy loads. With compassion, we can point them to God, who meets them where they are and offers healing.
3) Be a Releaser
The Samaritan didn’t do everything himself; he empowered the innkeeper to help. Ministry isn’t meant to be done alone. God calls us to partner with others through the power of the Holy Spirit to serve our community and world. Trust God to work through you and others, and release the need to do it all yourself.
Don’t let the busyness of the season distract you from what God wants to do in and through you. Make time to pause, listen, and then take action to serve others in His name. By doing so, you’ll not only share His love but also be refreshed and experience His joy.
Group Questions
- How can you intentionally make room for God in the busyness of the Christmas season?
- What steps can you take to balance pausing to hear from God and actively serving others?
- How can we actively pay attention to what needs to be done to bring others closer to God?
- Who in your life might need a reminder of God’s love through your actions this season?
Prayer
Even in the busyness of the Christmas season, open our hearts and fill us with compassion. Help us find moments to be refreshed, and let us serve people the way you would.