PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 2:1-7
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:7)
Middle Eastern culture is known for it’s strong hospitality.
Yet no one would take in an young expectant mother?
Maybe the town was full for the census, and all rooms were spoken for…
But no one would take them in, make room somehow?
I have seen people perform acts of kindness in the moment.
Give up their seats, go the extra mile, take in a stranger, share their limited food.
I cannot imagine how no one made room… maybe people did not know about them?
If they were to come today, would we make room?
If that family living in a car were them, would I give them room in my home?
If that homeless person was Jesus, would I feed him, take him in?
If we knew who Jesus was, or where he was, would we find a way to meet him, to serve him?
Jesus continues to make incognito appearances today, through people around us.
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40)
Do we have room for Jesus when he shows up in our lives – as a neighbor in need?
PRAYER
Lord, open my eyes to see you as you pass through my day. May I have room for you and them in my heart. May I make room for you and them in my life.
No room – no guest room. You would think that one of Joseph’s relations would have given some interior space for them – with Mary being so pregnant – but then the resident relatives would have been swamped with their relations coming from afar. But real question is ‘do I make room for Jesus?’ or do I have other priorities that displace him and relegates him to the closet or some other place far from my heart – especially when I’m ‘enjoying’ a whimsy of some sort. Would I open up and meet the needs of a stranger – it could be Jesus? Help me to see you Jesus – in everything – what would I do now without Jesus? He is my hope!
Good things come at unexpected places in unexpected times. Lord help us prepare where we can, and be adaptive where we cannot prepare. Give me the courage to be generous to others and be wise when planning. And if all else fails, Lord we know you will arrange for a manger.
No room for Him at the inn. Yet He knocks even today to receive Him Who came to bring Life. And in that Life giving spirit I need to go forward serving Him with an open heart being an instrument of His peace. All for Jesus.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs;
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
2
Let my hands perform His bidding;
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let mine eyes see Jesus only;
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.