Evicted

 

    

Luke 2:1-7

 

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,* who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 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.

NKJV

 

The birth of a King!  The long-awaited Messiah! Could there be a greater event to celebrate?  And yet, we see in Scripture that on that first Christmas, when Christ was born, there was nowhere for Jesus to sleep.  Nowhere for His mother to give birth in comfort and with dignity. Why?  Because the people did not have room for him.  They were full in occupancy.  Full of other people.  Full of other things.

As I review this past year, I am ashamed to confess, that some days my days were too full. Too full to make it about Jesus.  Too full to let Him have total control, or a place of honor.  Sadly, there were many days that I crammed Him into the "cracks and crevices" of my life.  You know, where I had room...

Somehow we must learn a way to put Jesus at the center of our hearts and lives, and allow everything else to be tucked around this true foundation.  The night He was born, the innkeepers missed an awesome opportunity to host the birth of their deliverer.  He was not being ugly.  He was just being an innkeeper- renting out his rooms and collecting the fare.  But what if he had been like Simeon or Anna in the temple?  They had been waiting and praying for Messiah.  And when he came to be dedicated in the temple, they were led by the Holy Spirit to lay eyes and hands on their long-awaited consolation!  Jesus is no respecter of persons.  The innkeeper could have had the same knowing, the same direction.  If he had sought the Lord.

But by the Father's design and foreknowledge, Jesus was born in a lowly stable to be the people's Messiah.  Lord of the common man.  Lord of the down and out person.  Over two thousand years later, the conundrum remains.  Are all of the rooms of my heart full?  Is there any room for one more?  ONE more?  If not, the time has come to carry out some evictions.  It is time to clean out some rooms and prepare my heart for the One who will always make room for me!

Dear Lord, thank you for coming.  Thank you for being born to set me free.  Help me to keep you at the heart of my Christmas and every other day of my life.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.