Any room at the Inn?

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 guest room available for them.

I find it amazing how sometimes we can be doing the most mundane of things and the Lord can just drop something straight into our spirits, something which brings such revelation and insight.

Yesterday, when I woke up, I found I was singing to myself the song ‘I surrender all to Jesus’ and it got me thinking about how much I really give to Jesus. Later, as I was standing at the kitchen sink, I found myself thinking about my relationship with the Lord and how easy it is for ‘stuff’ to crowd Him out of being my focus, and out of the centre of my life. Then this little line popped into my head, ‘There was no room at the inn’. I had this momentary revelation about the ‘inn’ being my life!

Most of us know the nativity story well. It’s the story of Jesus’ birth, of Mary and Joseph travelling to Joseph’s birthplace, Bethlehem, for the census. As it came time for Jesus to be born, so many others were there for the census too that everywhere was busy and full. It’s a very appropriate thought for this time of year, but I’ve only ever read this as a literal story of what happened, perhaps only seeing it in a two-dimensional way.

But nothing is insignificant with God. Everything has meaning, and was written down for a purpose. I love that. For me, in my momentary ‘kitchen sink’ revelation, I realise I’d never seen Jesus’ birth this way before and the significance of the ‘inn’ being like my life!

So, it got me thinking about my life and my heart attitude. Do I have room at the inn of my life for Jesus? How much room do I give Him? Will I offer what space I have? Will I clear the house for Him to enter in?

So, while you may all have got there before me, I feel quite challenged to continue to look at how much of my life I give Jesus, especially when life gets busy, messy, overwhelming, confusing, or … (wherever we’re at).

Although it’s not really about making room for Jesus, but inviting Him into every part of our life, I am conscious that Jesus’ life started in a stable. He was born in a lowly place, so that he could identify with our struggles. He would understand the mess, the mundane, and the busyness of our lives. He really longs to be our focus, but He wants, and needs, to be invited in.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”. He’s longing to be invited in, and He’ll start wherever we allow Him to take up residence. It’s the same with our healing journey. It’s coming into one room at a time, gently, lovingly, and compassionately. So, as we think about Jesus and His birth, let’s make room in our lives for Him to dwell and draw us deeper into relationship, healing, peace, and wholeness in Him. Thank You, Lord.