The kids were busy playing, dinner was cooking on the stove, rain poured outside, and I had Christmas music playing quietly in the background. There was a strange few minutes where I had nothing in particular to do. I mean there wasn’t enough time to start things I really needed to do (ahem, wrap presents, clean the house). So, I sat down at the table and scrolled my Facebook feed for a moment and stumbled on the meme that I attached to this post.
“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” If you’re not familiar, chapter 2 of the Book of Luke is where you’ll find the story of the birth of Jesus. In case you haven’t read it or heard Linus recite it in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” it’s verse 7 that says, “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.”
I read that sentence a couple times to let it sink in fully. Then I stopped scrolling to just ponder that thought. I don’t know if it was the Christmas music or the relative calm during what is normally a time of chaos but that really struck me as something that at least I should take more seriously. Just maybe I’m not alone.
Thanks to a great many church Christmas productions, many of us have that imagery of Mary and Joseph being turned away from proper places to give birth and forced to go to a stable with the animals. This is where our Savior entered the world – in the lowliest fashion. Much too often I think of this as just the one time event, that although exceptionally significant to my belief system, is not an active part of my life today. That’s probably not the right way to think about it.
Once again, I’m no theologian or even played one on TV, just a Jesus follower trying to seek God and His will for my life. With that in mind, the more I thought about that single sentence the more it resonated. I wondered if I had been guilty of turning Jesus away. I’m certain that I have at different times of my life. But how am I doing currently?
This Christmas season for example. Have I spent enough time at church in fellowship with others who share my beliefs? Have I spent enough time reading my Bible and studying God’s Word? I have a spent enough time teaching and building up my family? Have I spent enough time giving from my abundance to those in need? Have I spent enough time loving my neighbors – especially the ones who don’t agree with me, look like me or maybe even like me?
Am I really making room for Jesus in my life or am I relegating him to the stable? If I’m being truthful, just between you and I, the answer is a little bit of both. God may think differently but I believe I do a pretty decent job of making room for Jesus much of the time. The problem is that’s not good enough. What if Jesus shows up on Monday’s when it pours the rain all day and I didn’t want to go outside? Uh oh.
The thing is, if I’m not ready for Jesus all the time, then I’m not really ready at all. Here’s what I mean in a real world way. I have to make room for Jesus first. I have to want to and spend time with Him the same way I do with my family and friends. I have to follow His example and live how He wants me to live. I can’t be mean to the store clerk and claim that I’m making room for Jesus. I can’t spread gossip and make room for Jesus. I can’t focus on the stress and choose to take a pass on the holiday and make room for Jesus. Newsflash, and brace yourself, Christmas isn’t about Robyn. It’s not Robynmas.
Friends, I’m the chief offender of “I’m not in the Christmas spirit, and I want to skip Christmas” this year. I’m sure that translates exactly to “No Vacancy.” I’m not even sure that’s giving Jesus a stable. That’s the epitome of giving everything, especially me and my here-today-gone-tomorrow feelings, more importance than Jesus. In fact, I should be in the Christmas spirit every day of the year. I’m not talking about Santa Claus and presents, but rather making room for Jesus first every day.
It’s not my pastor’s job or Hallmark’s job or Macy’s job or Mother Nature’s job to get me there. It’s my job to make room for Jesus. It’s your job to make room in the inn of your own heart for Jesus. When we actually make room for Jesus, we can’t help but spread the real joy, peace and love that only He provides.
You can disagree with me if you want, but this world needs more Jesus. The only way that happens is if more of us make room for Him in the inn. That means we give Jesus the bed and we sleep on the couch. We need to give Him the room and kick the other stuff to the proverbial stable. Why are we so guilty of only giving Him whatever is leftover?
He came to give us life and we send Him to the stable. As we begin the final approach to this Christmas, let’s ensure that we’re making room for Jesus. And then let’s do it all year through.
