No Room

NO ROOM

Luke 2:7 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.

As we are in the week of Christmas, this year is different than any year that I know of, and some of it may be for our good. Many are restricted to where or when they can go. A fear of an unseen enemy called Covid-19 is across this land . Many are divided on how to handle this virus. Maybe we should just take a step back and forget how things were last year and enjoy the time we have now. Just think back to days gone by when things were slower, families were closer and Christmas was a special time. My parents have told me of how when they were young, there was no traveling over a few miles to be with family, as they had to walk or go by horse and wagon. Sometimes they didn’t have a wagon and went by horse only. The gifts were minimum, usually an apple, orange or a piece of peppermint candy,

They had big dinners of what they had grown, canned or killed and cured. If they had a tree it was decorated with homemade decorations, popcorn strings, berries strung together and if they happened have some foil it was made into ornaments, no lights. The tree was usually put up one or two days before Christmas and taken down the day after Christmas. To many today this seems like a fairy tale but it was their Christmas. The children of today would go ballistic at the thoughts of this, but we would do ourselves and them a great deed if we would slow down and get rid of some clutter in our lives and make room or more room for Jesus.

At the time Jesus was born, everyone in Israel went to their home city to be taxed. While they were there Mary was to give birth, but because of the crowds in Bethlehem there was no room for them and they had to go to a stable and there Christ was born. Not in a barn as we think of today but more like a cave, with a carved out feeding trough. There was no room for Jesus when He was born.

There was no room for Him in the religious world of that day, He didn’t fit their mold and went against the grain which was going to cost the religious leaders of that day their positions. Although some made room for Jesus the majority did not..

All down through the ages men have not been willing to make room for Jesus and have tried to make it hard for the ones that have made room for the Saviour.

Today many don’t have room for Jesus. To them Christmas is parties, food and gifts. We are being told not to say Merry Christmas but rather say happy holidays, This is because of Christ in Christmas. Without Christ there is no Christmas. The ones advocating for happy holidays have no room for Jesus. Many retailers don’t have room for Jesus, they just want to hear the cash registers ringing. We are living in a day when UN-Godliness is open, where it used to be frowned on now it is applauded. Many of our leaders and politicians speak out of both sides of their mouths supporting abominations and wickedness and then invoking God in their speech. These have no room for Jesus. The following story makes my point crystal clear.

Every year for years at Christmas Bro Roger Duncan told the story of Wally as have other preachers. Here is his story.

Wally was in the second grade even though he should have been in the fourth, he had a hard time keeping up, he was big and awkward and slow in movement and mind. He was liked by the other kids in his class. Wally was a helpful boy, always willing and smiling and the protector of the underdog, even though he was the underdog.

Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd in the Christmas play, but the play director Miss Lumbard assigned him a more important role. After all she reasoned, the innkeeper did not have too many lines and Wally’s size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful. The night of the play finally arrived and Wally had practiced his lines everyday and had it down pat. There was a large crowd gathered to see all the children do their very best. No one on stage was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wally. It was said later that as he watched with so much fascination that Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn’t wander on stage before his cue.

Then came the time when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop.

Wally the innkeeper was there, waiting. “What do you want?” Wally said swinging the door open with a brisk gesture.

“We seek lodging.”

“Seek it elsewhere,” Wally spoke vigorously, “The inn is filled.”

“Sir we have traveled far and are very weary.” “There is no room in this inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.

“Please good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”

Now for the first time, the innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.

“No! Begone” the prompter whispered

“No” Wally repeated automatically, “Begone!”

Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however Wally stood there in the doorway watching the couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears. And suddenly the Christmas play became different from all others.

“Don’t go Joseph.” Wally called out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wally’s face grew into a bright smile.

“You can have my room.”

Some thought the play was ruined. But in fact it was a great play though it diverted from the original story.

Wally was willing to give up his room to make room for Mary who delivered Jesus in the play.

Although we know the original innkeeper did not make that offer and there was no room except in a stable and Christ was born there. Would it not be good if all of the world would give up their wants and comforts to make room in their hearts for Jesus

But let’s bring it down to where we live. Do you have room for Jesus? Is it just a little room or have you opened your whole heart for Him to come and reside? I pray this Christmas you will have room for Jesus and if you don’t, make room for Him.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Merry CHRISTmas, filled with Christ.

Have a great day