Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Carmel MTC, Boston MA
7 And she gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn.
“Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?”
“No Availability” is a sign that sends disappointments through our hearts and minds when we are just looking to find a place to spend the night. Just imagine the confusion and terror that Mary and Joseph had to go through when they were told that there was no room for Mary to deliver her baby. Jesus himself must have heard that phrase while still in his mother’s womb.
The innkeeper when he said those words has missed one of the most blessed experiences of his life. It may have been his ignorance that caused him to not know that the child to be born was the Saviour of this world, the son of God. While Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and even the Magi knew, the innkeeper did not know. Or maybe he did not care. Just imagine sending off a pregnant woman to give birth in a manger. Or was he too involved with other things and so busy that he was not concerned? Or was his goal is to exploit the situation and make as much money as he could at a busy time like this?
When we picture the life of Jesus in this world, we see that He was rejected by His own people and the world. They did not have any room for Jesus in their world or in their lives. Even in death, there was no room for Jesus. He was buried in a borrowed tomb.(Luke 23:50-56)
How about us today? Jesus says to us “Behold I stand at the door and knock “(Rev. 3.20). Do we have room for Jesus in our lives and in our hearts? Is this Christmas season going to be all about parties and presents while leaving Jesus no room in our hearts?
Maybe the little girl was right when she confused her prayer and said, “forgive us our Christmases” instead of “forgive us our trespasses”. In this world where Christmas has become so commercialized, where people are more bothered about what presents they are going to buy, or who they are going to invite for the Christmas party, is this prayer relevant? Just like the innkeeper, have we missed the many blessings and opportunities in our lives because we had no room for Jesus?
“Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?”
“No Availability” is a sign that sends disappointments through our hearts and minds when we are just looking to find a place to spend the night. Just imagine the confusion and terror that Mary and Joseph had to go through when they were told that there was no room for Mary to deliver her baby. Jesus himself must have heard that phrase while still in his mother’s womb.
The innkeeper when he said those words has missed one of the most blessed experiences of his life. It may have been his ignorance that caused him to not know that the child to be born was the Saviour of this world, the son of God. While Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and even the Magi knew, the innkeeper did not know. Or maybe he did not care. Just imagine sending off a pregnant woman to give birth in a manger. Or was he too involved with other things and so busy that he was not concerned? Or was his goal is to exploit the situation and make as much money as he could at a busy time like this?
When we picture the life of Jesus in this world, we see that He was rejected by His own people and the world. They did not have any room for Jesus in their world or in their lives. Even in death, there was no room for Jesus. He was buried in a borrowed tomb.(Luke 23:50-56)
How about us today? Jesus says to us “Behold I stand at the door and knock “(Rev. 3.20). Do we have room for Jesus in our lives and in our hearts? Is this Christmas season going to be all about parties and presents while leaving Jesus no room in our hearts?
Maybe the little girl was right when she confused her prayer and said, “forgive us our Christmases” instead of “forgive us our trespasses”. In this world where Christmas has become so commercialized, where people are more bothered about what presents they are going to buy, or who they are going to invite for the Christmas party, is this prayer relevant? Just like the innkeeper, have we missed the many blessings and opportunities in our lives because we had no room for Jesus?
PRAYER
O Lord, as the year
draws to a close, let the wonderful message of Christmas: Emmanuel -God with
us, be embedded in our hearts. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
'Twas a humble
birth-place, but O how muchGod gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way ! - William Harold Neidlinger