I’m always struck by Luke 2:7 when I re-read the Christmas story: ‘She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.’ No room in a heaving Bethlehem overrun with descendants of David returning to their home town for the Roman census. No room for the Saviour of the world, born to a world that really didn’t want to know him. The irony of this situation always challenges me to look at how much room there is in my life for Jesus. You would think at this special time of year, it would not be a problem to find room for Him, but it’s always alarming to me how many things (often good things in themselves) can creep in and push Jesus out.
For a couple of years now, the line from the carol ‘Joy To The World’ has reverberated around my heart: ‘let every heart prepare Him room.’ When visitors come to our homes, there is preparation. Extra food must be bought. Bedding needs to be changed if they are sleeping over. Cleaning and tidying have to be done. In the same way, we have to de-clutter our lives at times to carve out time to be with Jesus. We have to purify ourselves. (1 John 2:28) We have to learn (as Mary did), to drop the busyness to spend time with Him. (Luke 10:38-42)
Making room for Jesus means there must be no room for certain things. Out must go fear, anxiety, doubt and despair. Out must go selfishness, pride, covetousness, bitterness, envy and anger. There simply isn’t room or space in our hearts for these things and Jesus. We can’t keep those attitudes and be with Jesus. We have to get rid of things in order to embrace the hope, peace, love and joy which Jesus promises.
Many people ‘have a good fettle’, as my Mum used to say, prior to putting up Christmas decorations. They throw things away that are no longer needed so they can make room for the new. We too need to ensure we put off our old self and put on the new, to understand that we have no room for sin so we can have plenty of room for our Saviour.
