“While they were there,
the time came for the baby to be born,
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.”
Luke 2:6-7 NIV
This morning in my mind, I am in my winter garden. Dark tree trunks
jump out from the backdrop of a newly fallen snow. The evergreens are lush and
the red poinsettias silently shout out bright red blasts of color. This morning
I am purposely setting aside time to meditate on the birth of my Savior. Sure,
I am busy during this time of year, but I have found that when I begin my day
with Jesus he somehow multiplies my time. I know I still have the same amount
of hours in my day but when I start my day with Jesus, he enables me to think
clearly, readjust my priorities, and helps me to focus on what seems to be the
most important task at hand.
Today, as I reflect on the night that Jesus was born I am filled with
sadness. I think that the saddest part of the Christmas story was the fact
that no matter how many inn doors Joseph knocked on in Bethlehem
No room, are you kidding me? How could that be? Couldn’t the God of
the universe have done a better job preparing for the birth of his son? God himself
was putting on skin and entering our world, but to Joseph and Mary’s dismay she
was about to deliver on the “Main
Street Bethlehem
The words “no room” keep ringing in my ears. This situation was
unbelievable! Not acceptable! And irresponsible! What was God thinking? It was
not fitting for a King to be born in full view of the public eye. What about
poor Mary, after all she willingly bowed in humility and took on the task of
obeying God, and I might add, she also did this with a smile on her face.
Didn’t she deserve more? What about Joseph? Wasn’t he trying to be responsible?
And now this, no room! Really God? How absolutely absurd!
And then I remember that God did what he does best, he showed up at the
last minute and just in the nick of time. The last innkeeper said there is room in the stable. This was not
really what Joseph was expecting from a God who owns it all, but nevertheless,
he was truly grateful and so he decided to make the best of God’s “less than
perfect” plan.
So there among the smelly cattle, the coarse scratchy hay, in the dark
of the night, the Son of God was born. No room, only a manger to lay this
little stranger in. No soft fluffy pillow, no satin edged blanket, nor was
there a beautiful cradle. No doctors, no nurses, no room service! Only the
simplicity of the stable, a meager manger, and one very bright star that was
now lighting up the sky over the stable!
Relatives did not arrive at the stable to ooh and ahh over this new family
member. Friends did not stop by with gifts. It seemed that the arrival of
Jesus was unnoticed. The little town of Bethlehem
But wait, slowly coming from the distance is a group of dirty shepherds.
They began to arrive from the hillside one by one. They smelled of the outdoors
and carried the odor of the sheep of their pasture. These sleepy men had
been watching their flock when the heavenly host made their announcement, “Today in the town of David
The words “no room” no longer seemed important to Mary and Joseph.
They now realized that God’s plan was so different from the ways of men. God
had provided all they needed. God had provided a place to rest and worshipers
to bow before their precious child, who was on loan to them from his Heavenly
Father. Scripture tells us that Mary pondered all of these things in her heart.
Luke 2:19
As I think about it, life is not much different today. Jesus Christ
has come to a world that continues to turn him away. To so many he is a
complete stranger. The hearts of mankind are hard and so full of self that
there is absolutely no room for Jesus. People continue to choose to remain
blind to the wonderful story of how God sent his son to an uncaring, sinful
world so that we might be rescued from the fate of sin. People continue to say,
“No room here.”
But praise God, there are individuals who do worship! Like the
shepherds we came to Jesus in filthy rags. We were poor and we were needy. Those
who worship are among the ones who have recognized who Jesus is. We have
welcomed the Son for God, the Messiah, our Savior, our redeemer, and our
friend. We have made room in our life for Jesus Christ and we worship him.
Questions:
- What part of this story do you find the most amazing?
- Do the words “no room” make you sad?
- Do you feel a need to worship when you see how completely God provided for Mary and Joseph?
- Have you made room for Jesus in your heart?
If you have already made room for
Jesus in your life then by all means worship him with all your heart this
Christmas season. If you have not made room for Jesus, simply bow your head in
prayer and invite Jesus to come into your heart. Tell him that you now have
room for him in your life and invite him into your heart. Now for the first
time in your life you will be able to worship the King as you celebrate his
birth during this beautiful Christmas season.
Prayer:
Dear God,
When I remember that your son was
born into a world that had no room for him I am overcome by sadness. But my
sadness has now turned to joy as I realize that you continue to knock at the
hearts of mankind asking each individual to make room for your Son in their life.
This Christmas I rejoice because I made that choice and I have made room for
your son, Jesus. I pray that others will do the same. The birthday of your Son
is not just a celebration of your birth, but an opportunity to bow our grateful
hearts in worship of our Savior. Lord with all my heart I worship your precious
son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
It is in his name I pray. Amen.
