Today I want to continue with the verse we studied yesterday, Luke 2:7, “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (NASB) Yesterday we talked about celebrating Jesus’ birth. Today I want to focus on the last part of this verse. As I explained yesterday, Mary and Joseph had to take refuge in a stable because there was no room at the inn for them, even though Mary was about to give birth.
Because of the census being taken, every inn was completely full in Bethlehem. How unsettling that must have been for Mary and Joseph. I can relate! Back in the 1990s, my first husband, Allen, and I went on a “driving vacation.” We only had a week and we decided to head from Montana down to Las Vegas, through Arizona, New Mexico, and back to Montana. Allen wasn’t one for making reservations in advance, much to my dismay. We managed fine until we got to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was something like 2:00 in the morning, we couldn’t find any motels that had rooms within a 100-mile radius, because, much to our surprise, the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival was taking place and every hotel, motel, and camping spot was taken. We found a motel in a not so good part of town, pulled in, and the counter clerk said they had no rooms available, especially since we had brought our dogs with us. Then, he said, “I have a room that you may be able to take.” He took us to this room, and there on the floor was someone’s suitcase. I said, “This room is already taken.” Then he took us to another room, and it was like the room from Hell! It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months. Dirt was everywhere, it had a kitchenette and the refrigerator had spoiled food in it, the bathroom was dirty, and the bed looked like someone had been sleeping in it. On top of that, there were people out in the parking lot that I could swear were doing drug deals. Needless to say, we left our dogs in the car! I told Allen to bring our sleeping bags in and lay them on the bed because there was no way I was getting into that bed between the sheets! The kicker to it all was the name of the motel…Desert Oasis! Wow!
As bad as that was, Mary and Joseph had it worse. They ended up in a stable full of smelly, dirty animals, and that was where Jesus was born. What a way for the Savior of the world to come into the world! No one had any room for Him! It has been that way ever since! When He walked this earth teaching and preaching, He was rejected by His own people. Even the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders of His day, called Him a blasphemer and plotted to kill Him. What they didn’t realize is that He was God’s Son, come to save the world from sin, to die on a cross willingly as a sacrifice for sins, past, present, and future. He then rose from the grave to be victorious over death and the grave and ascended back into Heaven.
Down through the centuries people have rejected Jesus, not making any room for Him in their hearts. They think that doing good deeds, or “not being as bad as the next guy” will get them into Heaven and save their sins. But the Bible says that we must accept Jesus as our Savior and ask Him to forgive us of our sins, and then allow Him to have complete control over our lives. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (NASB) Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (NASB) Romans 6:23 tells us, “But the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we can not be saved by our works. We are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.” (KJV) Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ can we become new creatures, have our sins forgiven, and gain eternal life. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” When we ask Jesus into our hearts and lives, He forgives us, cleanses us from all our sins, and then He desires to fellowship with us. He wants a relationship with us.
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, this Season of celebrating His birth is a perfect time. Make room for Him in your heart. You will find it is the best decision you will ever make. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He will walk with you every day.
donnasmusings 