December 14, 2013 Got Room?

Got Room?

Advent Day 14

Luke 2: 6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

“THERE was no room for them in the inn.” That’s always bugged me. How could anyone turn a very pregnant woman from an inn and show her a stable to spend the night? Somebody should have said, “Here. I’ll gladly give you my room.” But no one did. Instead, they sent Mary and Joseph – and Jesus – down the street to a stinking stable. 

     We still do that—send Jesus down the street, don’t we? He comes full of grace—his ears to listen, his hands to heal, his mouth to speak truth, his feet to walk among the spiritually poor, his cross to forgive you, and his command to say, “Come, follow me.”

     But we hesitate. We love to make room for Jesus, but that means our lives would change. Is that what we want? As he knocks on the door of our hearts, we too often say, “No room. Check down the street.” Then we look for him when we’re desperate for an answer on a dark, cold night.

     On that night in Bethlehem Jesus knocked at the door of the world, and only a few poor shepherds came to answer in faith. But the beautiful, wonderful thing is, he’s still knocking, inviting us to make room for him in our sad and lonely lives.

     What will it take for us to say, “Here, Lord, I have plenty of room in my heart for you. Won’t you come in?”

Pause and Consider: room for Jesus is room for life.