Make Room

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”-Luke 2:1-7 

In preparation for our Christmas series of messages at church, I have been carefully reading through Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 & 2.  These chapters are packed with people whose lives were forever changed by the birth of Christ. 

We read about Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, who while pregnant with John, had an encounter with Jesus while He was still in Mary’s womb. We read of the three wise men who traveled from the east, following a star, that led them to the newborn king. Of course, we read about a carpenter (Joseph) and a young woman by the name of Mary who would give birth the our Savior. We read about the shepherds who were among the first to hear of Christ’s birth through an angelic visitation and discover two precious saints of God, Anna & Simeon, who had waited their whole lives to see the Messiah and finally get their chance. 

However, the Christmas story didn’t end with the birth of Christ. His birth is still changing lives today. His birth is still giving hope and healing broken hearts. The Christmas story is ongoing and the cast of characters is growing day by day as people find hope in our Savior. 

The challenge today, is not whether we have room in our hearts for Christ, but rather will we make room. Let’s be honest, our lives are filled to the brim with commitments, obligations, passions, interests, and personal ambitions. Much like the innkeeper in the story of Christ, it wasn’t that he had room to spare and turned Mary and Joseph away because he was cold and mean. No, he had no room because the inn was fully occupied. There was no vacancy.

To make room for Mary and Joseph, he would have had to remove somebody else from a room they were occupying and give it to them. Sometimes I think the innkeeper has been given a bad reputation. Seriously, he didn’t know that Mary and Joseph were coming, so he wasn’t prepared for their arrival. He didn’t know who they were and neither did he know that Mary was carrying the Messiah inside of her. Perhaps, if he had, the story would have been different. 

So many of us today are like that innkeeper. We have occupied our lives with so much that we have left no room for Jesus. What I love about the story is that Mary and Joseph didn’t try to force their way into a place where there was no room, instead they found a place with plenty of space to accommodate Jesus. 

Jesus is never going to force Himself into a place where there is no room for Him. So, if you want Jesus to come into your heart and life, you are going to have to make room for Him. You are going to have to give up some things in your life, that have kept your heart, mind, and life occupied for so long. As you turn from those things, your heart will open to receive Him. 

Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church