And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
~Luke 2:7
It’s not hard to imagine why there wasn’t any room. The people of first century Bethlehem weren’t so different from us. We’re busy. We’re tired. We can miss what is right in front of our eyes. We can put off making time for things and people that matter.
But this week is it. It won’t be Christmas again for a whole year. So let’s slow things down and decide to make room for Emmanuel—the God who came to be with us. Come, and let us adore him.
“Let’s go to Bethlehem,” the shepherds said that night in the hills. Let’s put down what we were doing, what seemed so important moments ago. Let’s go see what this good news is all about. The shepherds took a chance, they made room—and they came back changed.
Mary made room in her heart to believe an impossible thing. Joseph made room for life to become different from what he expected. The wise men made time for a search they knew was important. The Christmas story is populated by characters who come and go from the manger—just as we will this week. How can we make sure we don’t miss what’s right in front of our eyes?
To grasp the humbling beauty of Christmas a little or a lot more than we ever have before, we have to show up—and rather than filling the space with ourselves, we need to make room.
Every day this week, find five quiet minutes to simply tell God: I want to make room for you.
Finding those quiet minutes may be easy, or nearly impossible. But don’t give up. By the tree or with a candle, with a favorite song or artwork or your family nativity, make that space and invite God in. It’s your world, Lord, and I don’t want to shut you out. You understand my heart, and I don’t want to ignore your voice. I want to make room for you to show me more of who you are. I want to make room to serve people in your name. I want to make room to worship you this Christmas.
Each Christmas, a gentle knock asks if we have space for love to come into our hearts and our homes. Let’s prepare to answer.
Verses for Week 4
Day 1
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
~Luke 2:10-12
Day 2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
~Matthew 2:1-2
Day 3
And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
~Matthew 2:9-10
Day 4
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
~John 1:9
Day 5
When the eighth day arrived … the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
~Luke 2:21
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