“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).

The world does not desire to give place to Jesus Christ. Mankind will outwardly house Jesus in beautiful edifices, but to house Him inwardly is a different matter. Since the sin of Adam, man has crowded the Lord out of His rightful place, the heart. Those who have “no room” for Him have rejected the marvelous potential for enjoying the following things: Salvation—the message of salvation is, “unto you . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). “Unto you” shows individual responsibility. No one can receive Christ for another. One should not reject by neglect! Peace—there can only be “peace on earth” (Luke 2:14) to those who have the Prince of Peace in their hearts. When we have Christ, we have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1). We who were sinners are now justified and declared righteous. We no longer fear to face God someday, because Christ has “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). We can’t make our peace with God, because Christ has already done that for us. We just receive Him, and His peace is automatically given to us. Great joy—“I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporary; joy is permanent. To those who have received Christ, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is not something we can work up ourselves. It is what the Holy Spirit gives to those who are abiding in the Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise and glory—“Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:13,14). The unsaved neither praise nor glorify God. But the Christian is to praise and glorify God both now and forever (Revelation 5:13). NPS