Whether a professing believer in Jesus should ‘celebrate Christmas’ , or not...is between them and God. I am not about to enter that arena of debate. But the ‘Christmas story’ as relayed by Linus on that stage in the ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ TV special is taken straight from the gospel of Luke; and this you can be sure of: “God became flesh...and dwelt among us”, as in He became a man and was born into this world as a baby infant a little over 2000 years ago. (John 1:1;14)

John goes on to write there in the first chapter of his gospel...that ‘in Him was life...and the life was the light of men...to shine in a world of darkness’ (4-5). And yet, even though the world was made through Him and by Him...the world did not recognize Him’ (10). I should also point out that this ‘light’ was made available to ‘every person’ who was in this world (9). You might also jot down Matt. 4:16 and Luke 1:78-79.

As you probably are aware of, this young infant born in a stable that night would grow up and eventually profess to be the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12), a light that would overcome in the darkness (5). But interestingly...not everyone would be thrilled to see this ‘light'. In fact, Jesus states that even while this ‘light came into the world...men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil...and would refuse to come to the light’ (John 3:19-20)

You do realize people have a choice...and can refuse to come to the light; sort of like: ‘Thanks, but no thanks, I’m good here!’.

But back to John’s writing in chapter 1 where he states: “He (Jesus) came to His own and His own did not receive Him.” (11); how telling is that? They did not ‘receive’ Him, just as many today are not interested nor willing to ‘receive’ Him. But....but....but...”to all who did receive Him...to them...He gave the ‘right-privilege-capacity’...to ‘become’... children of God. You might want to underline that word ‘become’ if you are following along with your Bible.

It is important to note here at the very start, that scripture clearly indicates, contrary to popular opinion today...that we are NOT ‘all’...children of God. I know it makes for good poems and song lyrics and inspiring speech material, but that simply is not the case. Otherwise, why would there be a need to ‘receive Christ’ in order to ‘become a child of God’?

No doubt, this can be offensive to many people as I’m sure those Pharisees were highly offended when Jesus flat out told them who their ‘father’ was, in John 8:44, even prefacing that by saying: “IF...God were your Father...you would love Me...” (42).

One is not a ‘child of God’ simply because they ‘confess’ that they are. You probably already know this, but one must be ‘born again...of the water and Spirit’ (John 3:3,6), and it will be clear to all ...who the ‘children of God are and who the ‘children of the devil’ are (1 John 3:10; John 13:35).

“Whoever is born of God does not sin, for His seed...remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

Now I realize how this just smacks up against what most of us have been taught to believe, but do keep in mind that all I am doing here is telling you what is right there in your Bible. What you do with it is between you and God, and I say that with all due respect and in love and humility. Trust me...it was a process for me to come to terms with this, as it will be for anyone else who is open to just examining scripture in search of truth (Acts 17:11).

So let’s now take a moment and consider what it means to ‘receive’ someone. It means you welcome them in, as if a guest came to your front door and knocked or rang the bell. You have that option to decline, ignore, or to tell that visitor they are not welcome to come in to your home; but...if you do invite them in...you are then ‘receiving’ them into your home.

We read in Rev. 3:20 where Jesus states: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Can I just tell you now that if you have never done this before... heard that knock and then opened the door to receive Him...please know that He’s not wanting to ‘come in’ just so you both can hang out on the sofa and watch ball games or the latest Netflix series. He’s wanting to bring light and truth, in order to lead you out of darkness, and set you free from the power of your father, the devil so that you can then be conformed to His image, the one who is the firstborn of many ‘brethren’ (Acts 26:18; Rom. 8:29). There is a ’pathway of peace’ He wants to lead you down (Luke 1:79) and out from beneath that ‘shadow of death’ which we were all under (John 3:36; Eph. 2:1-3; Matt. 4:16). In other words...He stopped by to invite you to ‘take up your cross and follow Him’ (Luke 9:23; 14:33). And while multitudes of people have at least been open to 'inviting Him in'...far fewer have chosen to follow Him out.  I'll give you a moment with that one.

That’s what it means to ‘become a child of God’, because that is what ‘children of God’ do – they are ‘led by His Spirit’ ...and they follow Him (Rom. 8:14). This is what His 'sheep' do (John 10:27).

Christ came into this dark world to ‘save sinners’ (1 Tim. 1:15). He did not come to condemn and destroy, He came to save (John 3:18). It was never His will for ‘any to perish, but for all to come to repentance’ (2 Pet. 3:9). And He also warns us in love, (not a threat, but a warning)....that ‘unless we repent...we will all perish’ (Luke 13:3,5). That is the gospel, my friends. This is why Jesus came into this world, and it’s important to note that He did not come the way man was expecting Him to come, at all. But He did indeed come, and we have the choice to ‘come to Him’ as we ‘receive Him’...in order that we might ‘become children of God’...or not.

So during this next week, if you hear, or sing that beloved Christmas carol...'Joy to the world'...and you are reminded that ...'the Lord has come...' you might give some thought to that next line..."let Earth...receive her King"... and ask yourself: Have you? 

" Let every heart prepare Him room...."

He's knocking. 

Merry Christmas.