In many ways, this is “the most wonderful time of the year.” There are so many special things that are peculiar to this season—the weather, the music, the decorations. I love them all. I love spending time with my family, I love open house at the Bowman’s, I love drinking hot chocolate and getting to a light the fireplace every now and then.

But there is also the danger of this being the most distracting time of the year. For some people in the world, this is the only time of year they think about Jesus. For some Christians, this is the only time of year they don’t. Let us not get so wrapped up in the ribbons and bows of the holidays that we forget about our responsibilities to the Lord and to one another.

Don’t take a vacation from your vocation. School is out, the college kids are home, many will be time off from the office. But just because there is no schoolwork to be done doesn’t mean there is no spiritual work. You can put the big project on hold for a few weeks, but service in the kingdom can’t wait that long. Christian duties need to be done in December, too. God wants us “in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

Leave your lights on. This is the season for circuits that get overloaded, for fuses that get short, for nerves that get frayed, for bulbs that burn out. This is the time that many do not shine their lights. But even during the last two weeks of the year, we must press “on” and show people our good works so they can better see our good God (Matt. 5:16). Otherwise, we just go off and leave them in the dark.

Get an early start to your fresh start. Maybe diets and exercise programs and other resolutions can wait until January, but go ahead and get started with your spiritual diet and discipline. What if you put it off and don’t make it to the New Year? Could Jesus return during the holidays? If that doesn’t qualify as coming “like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2), I don’t what does.

One of the greatest benefits of this time of year is the opportunity to reflect. Let it not be one that you forget or regret.