6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-8 (NIV)
I have heard this preached a thousand times. We need to make room for the Christ Child. We need to allow Him room, this is true. But let’s think from a different perspective. When the story is told, the Innkeeper is often described as harsh, greedy, or selfish. They say he didn’t make room for Jesus. Is that true? He had a lot going on during that census. He could have brushed Mary and Joseph off, but instead he DID find room. He actually had the courage to give something to God that wasn’t perfect, that wasn’t “good”. He just gave what He had. He didn’t know that his willingness to share the humble things would be told around the world for centuries. He didn’t know the comfort our hearts would receive today as we ponder a king who would leave His throne and palace to be born in an animal feeder for the purpose of dying to save us. We praise Jesus humility for doing those things, but what about the inn keeper’s humility? We would all rather show God to the guest rooms with the beautiful bedding and the sweet smelling soap. But what about the barn out back? What about the failures, the mistakes, the shame. What about the dangling issues we can’t figure out? Do we have the humility to give ALL to Jesus and watch His glory shine through our own barns and mangers?
