Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of happiness and celebration, both from a secular and a Christian point of view. From a secular point of view, it is a time of giving and receiving, family gatherings, parties, etc. From a Christian view it contains all of the above but the motivation and the "reason for the season" is that God entered the world in the person of the Christ Child; Jesus the Messiah! He came to introduce us to the Father and to restore the relationship that was broken by sin through His death on the cross. The season that is supposed to be one of great joy is often filled with memories that are very painful. We attempt to please and appease God but usually fail miserably. Jesus' message for today is to all who are burdened with worry, guilt, doubt, failure, bad memories, etc. The Word here doesn't say to work it out, get over it, or stuff it. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all... I will give you rest." When your car is low on gas, it doesn't work or do tricks to get gas, it merely signals you that there is a need and if you ignore it it will run out and just stop running. All it can do is just patiently wait for you to put in the nozzle and pour in the gas. If you hold up a treat for your dog and give no command, he may roll over, sit up and beg, or bark. All these with the purpose to get you to give him the treat. Sometimes our spiritual tanks are large and empty, and we go through the motions not a lot different than the dog. Jesus says, "Come to me ... and I will..." Come to Him and in faith wait on Him to put in His nozzle and fill your tanks with that spiritual fuel: His love, His joy, and His rest. Remember, you can't give away what you don't have; but when He fills your tank, you have so much that you have to give it away.

Come unto Me