The story of Jesus’ birth into this world is one filled with cameos, small stories, pictures that all go to make up the complete story. One such cameo is the picture of Joseph and Mary standing at the door of the boarding house, seeking a room where none can be found.

Sadly the greatest gift the world has ever been offered is rarely received. We even fill our Christmas celebrations with cards, presents, family reunions, holidays food and drink. We make room for extra turkey, another James Bond film, more unwanted and unneccessary gifts, yet, in all our business at Christmas we still fail to make house room for the most important person.

Whilst the entire multitude of angels could not help but announce His birth (Luke 2:13-14) Jesus still stands alone seeking entrance to our lives.

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.’ Revelation 3:20

Are you willing to give Him house room in your Christmas? Will you open the door of your heart and let Him come in to reside in it? Only then will Christmas really be a celebration, only then will you know what the angels were singing for!

“I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3-4

Although there is plenty of room for discussion on minor points there really is only one doctrine for the Church. But, it is the character of the teaching that is crucial. A doctrine can be ‘different’ as much for its purpose as for its content.

Christian doctrine is no mere ‘body of knowledge’, rather it is divine training. Theology is not the same thing as biblical doctrine. It only becomes doctrine when it is applied to the life of the believer.

Jesus’ command to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 was to go and make disciples … teaching them to obey. Mere discussion without the intention of changing lifestyle is not Christian doctrine. Christian doctrine, divine training will transform us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) – divine training producing divine living!