THE GUEST ROOM

Though scripture does not really give us all the specifics or facts in detail about the physical place/building of Jesus’ birth, one interpretation is that Jesus had His humble beginnings born in a stable where the animals stayed.

This holiday season, let us take a few moments from the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and celebrations, to reflect on a simple thought based on this passage from Luke 2:7, “…She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them,”  zeroing in on the “no guest room available.”

What if…what if we viewed the “guest room” as your heart?

Take a few moments to reflect on the current condition of your heart…the guest room!

****Just like at Jesus’ birth where there was NO guest room available, is your heart too occupied with chasing after the things of this world to have room for Jesus?  Is wealth, material possessions, status in this world overtaking the room in your heart?

****Is there a very little room in the guest room available in your heart for Jesus? Is it just a little room—like a minute at the end of the day when you finally fall into that soft, comfortable bed when you might say a quick, fleeting prayer and remember Jesus?

****Is there an average amount of room in the guest room of your heart?  Maybe you go to church once a week, go through the motions, but maybe you really do not let Jesus get too close to your heart.

****Or, does Jesus have the big guest room in your heart, your whole heart that truly belongs to Him?  Do you  “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength?”  (Deuteronomy 6:5  NIV)

A beautiful Banana Bark Card courtesy of www.FoodForThePoor.org/bark

Christmas is a special time of year when we celebrate Jesus’ birth which is the true significance of the holiday season!  It is great to dwell on the meaning of that in our lives and try to not get too “wrapped up” in the giving of presents.

Truly, the greatest present of all time was when JESUS was born. Nothing can top that!

God loved each one of us so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to earth as a baby so we would be able to easily relate to His time on earth and that He could teach us.  God sent Him knowing that when the time was right, Jesus would be put to death, death on a cross, to set us free from all our sin. What love the Father has bestowed on us!

Consider if you need to make a change in the condition of your heart this Christmas season….to make a big guest room for Jesus. It would truly be the greatest Christmas present of all to our Lord!

Isn’t it interesting to note that just like we need the guest room of our heart filled with Jesus, at the same time, Jesus has a special house where He is saving us a room too?   John 14:2-3 says, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”  (NIV)  How neat is that to see that parallel? 

Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Here is a link to my favorite Christian band, Third Day, singing this song. Take a listen and be blessed!

My Christmas wish for each of you is that the guest room of your heart may be overflowing with room for the greatest present of all, Jesus!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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 the 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.  –Luke 2:1-7  (NIV)

Author: Christine

Welcome to Hope to Inspire You….Highlighting God’s presence to Inspire your Life! I’m Christine, a Christian, hoping to inspire you by sharing what is in my heart about our faith and our great God. Take some time, read some of my thoughts, and feel free to comment and share your thoughts…It would be a blessing to hear from you. My prayer is that you may be inspired and blessed in some small way by reading! View all posts by Christine