There are two types of people.

On the one hand, some people blast Christmas music regardless of the time of year.

On the other hand, others will reserve festive songs for only the holiday season. (If you were wondering, this is correct.)

But regardless of what your opinion on this is, we now find ourselves in the thick of Christmastime. So, whether it’s Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey, or Michael Bublé, crank up the volume to whatever Christmas song your heart desires!

While the holiday season brings new joys (like Christmas songs), it also brings new things to do… lots of new things to do.

If you’re anything like me, my calendar suddenly is more crowded, and my to-do list hits a growth spurt that any 10-year-old boy would envy.

It’s so easy to sprint through the presents to buy and the food to make and the places to be. If this happens, our hearts can feel empty whenever the time comes to pack up the tree and stockings.

But this Christmas doesn’t have to be that way. If we prioritize relationships during the holiday season, we can find contentment and joy even in the long list of “to-do’s.”

Here are three relationships to focus on this season:

1) God

Humans are relational beings. It’s the way God has designed us. Specifically, God has designed a relationship with Him. Because of our sin, we are born separated from God. But the message of the Gospel means that we can be reconciled to God by trusting in Jesus.

If we want to have an intimate relationship with God, it requires effort… just as any relationship does!

Although we may have trusted in Christ, our relationship can grow cold if we do not create time to be with Him. That doesn’t mean He stops loving us, or our salvation is in question, but it does mean the Gospel may seem irrelevant to our daily lives.

Practical Tip: Plan to read through Luke 2 multiple times throughout this Christmas season. Before you open your Bible, ask God to reveal Himself to you in a fresh, needed way.

All of our relationships with others flow from our relationship with God. As we surrender more of our life to God through discipleship, the way we relate to others will begin to look more like Jesus.

2) The Church

While the church is messy, it is irreplaceable in the life of a Christian.

Make no mistake! The church has its faults.

Why? Because people have faults, and people comprise the Church.

And for some of you, I know the Church has deeply wounded you. If this is a part of your story, I’m so sorry. I’d encourage you to read this article.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

The anonymous author of Hebrews is saying that God uses gathering with other believers to stir up love, good works, and encouragement in our lives and in the lives of others.

This Christmas, you can choose to love and encourage those in your Church family by continuing to gather with them.

Practical Tip: Look at your church’s website or social media. As you scroll, ask God how to respond to ways you can serve or connect with people. Consider how you can sacrificially love the Church through your involvement.

3) Non-Believers

A few years ago, I heard something that changed my view of evangelism entirely.

On his podcast This Cultural Moment, Mark Sayers said, “Today, we want the kingdom without the King.”

In other words, everyone around us is desperately seeking the benefits of God, but apart from God.

Everybody wants truth, but not the Spirit of Truth.

People want hope, but not the Living Hope.

The world wants peace, but not the Prince of Peace.

The world craves God but doesn’t know it.

Most people around us celebrate Christmas, but are they celebrating Christ?

Whenever we share our faith, we invite someone to trust in Christ alone to rescue them from their sins.

Practical Tip: When in a conversation, ask someone, “What are you celebrating this Christmas?” This question will help you understand more about them, and then you can share what you are celebrating: the Gospel.

Never discount someone’s wisdom.

Even if they carry around a blanket and suck their thumb like young Linus Van Pelt.

Out of sheer exhaustion, his animated friend shouted, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Linus gently replies, “Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about.”

This Christmas, let’s focus our attention on the relationships around us.

Because of Christmas, we can know God.

Because of Christmas, we can love others.

Because of Christmas, we have a new message to share — that God loves them & they can know Him.