The holiday season is always a very busy time of the year for most people.  Our family is no different, but this past one felt even more exhausting than normal.  We hosted thanksgiving at our house this year, and right after that we had the stomach flu and colds hit our house.  Both of our kids were sick on and off for about 3 weeks straight.  After a few doctor’s appointments, and some antibiotics, things got better, but we were still in the middle of trying to prepare for Christmas.  On Christmas we had more family in town and our various responsibilities at church to fulfill.  However, after that I had the blessing of having over two weeks off of work after Christmas.  We spent a week in Phoenix visiting my family and then I had another week at home.  I was looking forward to this time to rest and recharge for before this new year. 

In the sermon this Sunday Justin talked about the renewal that we see Jesus brings us in the Gospel of Matthew.   As I listened to the Sermon, I became convicted of trying to renew myself from things that cannot give me the renewal I need.  I look to time off from work to rest and focus on spending time with my family.  I look to doing activities that relax me and help to take my mind off of the day to day stress.  I look to traveling to get away from the work that I have to do at the house and in this city.  All of these things are good and can have a positive impact on my life.  However, without Christ, I will be met with the same stresses and frustration that existed before.  We live in a broken world that is going to continually bring us down.  The sin, sickness, tragedies, hurt, guilt, and shame will not become easier because of a vacation.  They become manageable because of Jesus.  He is the only one that can forgive, comfort and revive us in a way that truly transforms our lives.   

This is a lesson that as Christians we will learn time and time again.  We will “get on track” and then fall away.  This is why it is important that we “never stop starting” as Justin said on Sunday.  We are going to fail, and we should be afraid on it or become discouraged by it (easier said than done).  We should rest is Jesus, and remember that is does not matter how many times we fail, it matters that we come back to Him and start again.  Christ has already won this battle for us, and one day He will bring about the “renewal of all things” and we will be with him forever. 

~Stephen Siebert