The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Episode #250 - Joby Martin // Christmas Without The Chaos
Date: December 16, 2025

Overview

This special Christmas edition of The Daily Blade centers on finding peace, purpose, and godly priorities in the midst of the holiday hustle. Joby Martin offers a devotional reflection on how to avoid the chaos that often accompanies Christmas by focusing on honoring God, serving family, and resisting the temptation to get swept up in busyness for the approval of others.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Winning at Christmas Means Glorifying God

• Joby reframes “winning” at Christmas:
  • Not about decorations or presents.
  • About “bringing God glory in the way we conduct ourselves in this season.” (00:27)

The Danger of Busyness

• Seminary professor’s wisdom:
  • “If the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy.” (00:42)
• Joby challenges listeners to reflect on over-scheduling and misplaced priorities (“too many parties… too many expectations from other people… too much travel… too many events” - 00:44).

Schedule Your Priorities, Don’t Just Prioritize Your Schedule

• Joby emphasizes:
  • Time with God and family must be intentionally protected.
  • “You schedule your priorities. You don’t just prioritize your schedule.” (00:57)
• Reminder that “your family are not your parents and your in-laws anymore… If you are married with kids, that is your family and that’s who you need to serve first and foremost.” (01:14)

Seek God’s Approval, Not People’s

• Biblical grounding in Galatians 1:
  • Quoting scripture: “For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God?... If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (01:22)
• Warns against letting family pressure or social expectations dictate choices.

Make the Best Use of Your Time

• Ephesians 5 cited:
  • The Bible urges believers to “look carefully then at how you walk… making the best use of your time because the days are evil.” (02:01)
• Assess your calendar:
  • “Does it scream wisdom?”
  • “God's will for your life is to love God, to love people, and to date the gospel to the ends of the earth. Is that what your schedule reflects?” (02:29)

Find Rest in Jesus, Not Your Schedule

• Matthew 11:28 referenced:
  • Jesus invites, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.... I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (03:10)
• Challenge: “Your schedule will not give you rest. Jesus will.” (03:32)

Balancing Rest and Service

• Anecdote about Tim Tebow:
  • Tebow’s “greatest fear is that he would go to heaven well rested.”
  • Rest is biblical, but so is kingdom work.
• Joby asks: “Are you living for the applause of man or the applause of heaven?... Heaven cheers when the lost are saved, when the poor are served, when the gospel is preached.” (03:53 – 04:18)

Practical Encouragement

• Prioritize inviting others to Christmas services.
• Don’t focus on “eggnog, parties, or that stuff,” but on “the Father’s business.” (04:38)
• Closing call: “Don’t get too busy—be about the Father’s business.” (04:49)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Joby Martin on priorities:
  • “You schedule your priorities. You don’t just prioritize your schedule.” (00:57)
• On people-pleasing:
  • “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (01:28, quoting Gal 1:10)
• On Jesus’s invitation:
  • “Your schedule will not give you rest. Jesus will.” (03:32)
• On balance, quoting Tim Tebow:
  • “One of his greatest fears is that he would go to heaven well rested.” (03:42)
• Final exhortation:
  • “Don’t get too busy—be about the Father’s business.” (04:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Introduction to “winning” at Christmas
• 00:40 — Dangers of busyness; Professor’s maxim
• 01:14 — Redefining family priorities
• 01:22 — Galatians 1: People-pleasing vs. God-pleasing
• 02:01 — Ephesians 5: Using time wisely
• 03:10 — Matthew 11:28–Rest in Christ
• 03:42 — Tim Tebow story: balancing rest and service
• 04:38 — Practical invitation for Christmas focus
• 04:49 — Closing challenge: avoid busyness, pursue God’s will

Summary Tone and Takeaways

Joby Martin brings a direct yet pastoral tone, urging listeners to resist cultural chaos and align their schedules with God’s will—not others’ approval. With humor, real-life examples, and biblical truth, he calls men (and all believers) to practical changes for a Christ-centered Christmas season.

For listeners:
This episode delivers a clear message: Prioritize what truly matters—God, family, and gospel impact. Don’t let noisy obligations rob you of meaningful rest and mission during the holidays.