"First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them'—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second."
Hebrews 10:8-9 (NIV)
You're exhausted, and Christmas hasn't even arrived yet. The decorations must be perfect. The gifts must delight everyone. The meals must impress. The family photos must look flawless. You're running yourself ragged trying to create the perfect Christmas. But here's the truth: you're offering sacrifices that God never asked for. You're working hard at things that don't bring Him pleasure.
God looks at your frantic efforts and says the same thing He said about animal sacrifices. "I didn't desire this. I'm not pleased with this." Not because He's disappointed in you, but because He has something better. He doesn't want your exhausting performance. He wants your grateful heart. He doesn't need you to be the savior of Christmas. He already sent one, and His name is Jesus.
Picture a child trying to earn their parent's love by being perfect. They clean their room obsessively. They hide their mistakes. They work themselves into anxiety trying to measure up. Meanwhile, the parent just wants to hold them. The parent's love was never based on performance. It was freely given from the start. All that striving? Unnecessary. All that fear? Unfounded. The love was already there.
That's you this Christmas season. You're working yourself sick trying to earn something you already have. God's approval isn't waiting at the end of a perfect holiday performance. It was secured when Jesus said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." Christ set aside the old system of earning and striving. He established a new one: grace, acceptance, and rest.
Here's your invitation: stop trying and start celebrating. Stop trying to make Christmas perfect. Start celebrating that Jesus already made everything right. Stop trying to earn approval through flawless execution. Start celebrating that you're already approved through Christ's finished work. Stop trying to create meaning through exhausting effort. Start celebrating the meaning that's already here: God came to rescue you.
Godseekers, Christmas freedom is yours. Christ replaced the old system of endless sacrifices with His one perfect sacrifice. You don't have to keep offering up your stress, your money, your sanity, hoping this year it'll finally be enough. It won't be enough because it was never meant to be. Jesus already did what needed doing. Your job isn't to save Christmas. Your job is to rest in the Savior. Let go of what God never asked for. Receive what He freely gives: grace, peace, and joy that doesn't depend on your performance.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess I've been exhausting myself trying to create the perfect Christmas. I've been offering sacrifices You never desired: stress, anxiety, and endless striving. Forgive me for thinking my efforts could earn what You've already freely given. Thank You that Jesus set aside the old system of performance and established a new way: grace. This Christmas, help me stop trying to be the savior of the season. Remind me that You already sent one. Free me from the pressure of perfection. Fill me with the peace that comes from resting in Christ's finished work. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- What specific Christmas "sacrifices" are you offering that leave you exhausted rather than grateful?
- How would your Christmas season change if you truly believed God's approval doesn't depend on your performance?
Step of Faith
Today, I will identify one Christmas pressure I've been carrying and release it, choosing to rest in Christ's finished work instead of my own efforts.
