My son loves Christmas music—really loves it. So much so that all of us at work have been generously blessed by his holiday playlist throughout the season. One song in particular, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” had its turn playing on repeat.
As we listened, my husband suddenly said—half serious, half joking—in a slightly frustrated tone,
“I don’t know why they wait until Christmas to play that song. They should play it all year long!”
I think his point was this: if people heard that song year-round, maybe they’d think a little more about whether they were being naughty or nice. Of course, he wasn’t serious about Santa (and by now we all know Santa isn’t real), but there was some truth hiding in his joke. Let’s be honest—we all like the idea of being on the “nice list,” don’t we?
I’ll admit it—I don’t always stay there. Do you?
That thought reminded me of someone else who struggled with the same thing. Let’s take a look at his words.
Romans 7:14–25 (excerpt)
The apostle Paul openly admits his struggle: wanting to do good, yet doing the very things he hates. He describes an inner war—delighting in God’s law, yet battling sin that keeps showing up uninvited. Finally, in frustration, he cries out:
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”
And then comes the answer:
“Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
This is Paul—the man who wrote much of the New Testament—confessing that he can’t stay off the “naughty list” on his own. The Bible doesn’t actually talk about naughty or nice lists, thank God, but it does talk honestly about good and evil, and about our inability to choose good perfectly every time.
Paul even points the finger at sin living within him. He knows the problem isn’t just behavior—it’s the condition of the human heart.
The truth is, none of us are truly “good,” and none of us earn a spot on a nice list. But here is the very best news.
Luke 2:8–14 (excerpt)
On a quiet night, ordinary shepherds heard extraordinary news:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Did you catch that?
The good news was for all the people.
The angel didn’t mention a naughty list. Or a nice list.
Just a Savior.
This is the same Savior Paul declared would rescue him. Jesus came not for the perfect, but for the struggling. Not for the deserving, but for the needy.
God gave His Son to all of us—naughty, nice, and everyone in between. That doesn’t mean God wants us to keep sinning, but it does mean He lovingly sent Jesus to rescue us when we do.
So if your Christmas tree doesn’t have many gifts underneath it this year, please don’t believe it’s because you’ve been “naughty.” Perhaps God is gently reminding you to focus on the greatest gift of all—His Son, Jesus Christ.
He was wrapped in cloths, laid in a manger, and given freely—not because we earned Him, but because we needed Him.
Let Him do what He came to do.
Let Him rescue you.
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Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for rescuing us from this body of death. We confess that we are not always “nice” and that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. When we struggle with sin, help us turn to You—the greatest gift of all. Teach us to keep asking, trusting, and believing that through You we can overcome, because You came to save us from our sins.
Thank You for not placing us on a list, but for loving us fully and offering us the gift of eternal life. We receive that gift with grateful hearts. Thank You for another Christmas with You as our Lord and Savior.
Happy Birthday, Jesus.
Merry Christmas.
You are the best gift we have ever received.
In Your precious name we pray,
Amen.
