How Much Room Are We Making for Jesus?

I often ask myself if my heart and life are so filled with Jesus that I’m totally in His will, or if I let other things crowd Him out. I come up short too many times to count. How is it with you?

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair

Making Room

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

Those innkeepers must have been busy! Census time back then brought hordes of people along the dusty roads looking for shelter for the night. The innkeeper’s wife probably became so weary from cooking and cleaning, she could hardly think. Her husband likely had all he could do to make sure every guest had a place to sleep. Perhaps he even lined the hallways with extra mats for the overflow.

By the time Mary and Joseph arrived at the inn, the only place available was the stable. Although not the most convenient or comfortable place for giving birth to a baby, the stable was offered to them. Perhaps the innkeepers felt enough compassion to make such an invitation.

The story causes me to wonder what kind of and how much space am I making for Jesus. How much room am I allowing Him in my life, my heart? What can I get rid of that will help Him to fit into my home?

The apostle Paul writes: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Even for us Christ-followers, it can become easy to crowd our temple-home with busyness or jobs, family or fun, relegating Christ to a corner or closet where He will still be available in case we need Him but where we can ignore Him. It’s easy to tell ourselves that when we’re through with our schoolwork or chores or vacation or company or nap, we’ll bring Him out of our closet and give Him a bit of attention. It’s easy to make Him the “add-on” to our lives.

Will the morning paper wait until we spend some time with Jesus? Will the TV program wait until we read a chapter in His Word? Will our “to do” list wait until we meditate on that chapter?

This Christmas season let’s make our relationship with Jesus the most important part of our celebration—and beyond—and daily make room for Him in our hearts.

Lord, today we choose to make room for You in our hearts and lives. You are the King and Lord of our lives. You are most worthy of our time, talents, and treasures. In Jesus’ name, amen.