We’re returning our hearts to the wonder of Christmas, and goodness, we’ve covered much over the last two weeks. We’ve looked at living with less stress this season, showing compassion to others, grief during Christmastime, and when the holidays are hard. We’ve embraced the imperfect Christmas, and we even discussed real-life Grinches.
Thank you for joining me in returning to the wonder of Christmas!
Today we’re traveling forward straight into the Christmas story. Let’s take a look:
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 GW
My mind tells me we need to start at the beginning of the story. That’s just how I’m wired. But my heart tells me to start right here, in Luke 2:6-7.
So, here we are.
It came time for Mary to give birth. These two verses in Luke don’t give us much for detail about this birth, do they? They just tell us she gave birth to her firstborn son. Now, from personal experience, there’s more than what this sentence describes as far as giving birth goes. But, that’s a different subject for a different day. What captures my attention, however, is at the end of verse 7.
Mary wrapped the baby in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, a feeding trough. Why?
Because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn.
No one had room for Mary and Joseph. No one had room for the Savior of the world to be born. Not one person or one place was willing to make room for them.
The world didn’t make room for Jesus as an adult either. The people missed the Messiah they were desperately looking for. They missed Him because they were looking for something and someone else.
Friend, is today any different? Does the world make room for Jesus today? Do people miss Him because we’re looking for something or someone else? What about you and what about me?
Do we make room for Jesus?
We have less ten days to prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior. It’s easy to become preoccupied. Right now is when it usually happens. It’s common to get distracted as it draws closer to Christmas Day. We can get overcome with the glitter and sparkle of the season, or with our to-do lists, or with all we have inked in our schedules.
Will we make room for Him this Christmas? In our hearts and in our lives?
One way to make room is to ready the Christmas story. Each year I read through it and it sets my heart in the right direction. Some suggested readings:
A Savior King is Promised – Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2-5a
The Angel Visits Mary – Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Visits Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25
The Trip to Bethlehem and Stable Lodging – Luke 2:1-7
The Christ Child Is Born – Luke 2:6-7
The Angels Visit the Shepherds – Luke 2:8-14
The Shepherds Visit the Manger – Luke 2:15-18
The Wise Men Travel to Jerusalem – Matthew 2:1-8
The Wise Men Worship the Christ Child – Matthew 2:9-12
The Trip to Egypt – Matthew 2:13-15
This year I’m reading one each day, and I’m asking God to show me something I may have missed in His story.
I do not want to miss the opportunity to draw near to Jesus these next ten days. I do not want to miss Christmas. I’m guessing you don’t want to either.
What’s one way you can make room for Him today?
Blessings!
Julie
This post is adapted from its original version in the series Rediscovering Christmas.
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