While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7
“It wouldn’t be Christmas with Jesus in a neonatal intensive care unit now would it? It wouldn’t be Christmas if some anonymous inn keeper two thousand years ago hadn’t gone the extra mile and made a way when there seemed to be no way.
When you think about it, that’s exactly what God is like; always making a way when there seems to be no way; making room when there is no room. It’s the very point of Christmas isn’t it?
From this we can learn that true hospitality is not about who you have room for, but who you are willing to make room for. It’s not who you invited that tests your hospitality, but the unexpected guest…It’s the unexpected guest who proves to be the most surprising blessing.”
J.D. Walt is Chief Sower at www.seedbed.com and today’s Meditation comes from his 22 December 2014 daily text entitled “Hospitality. There’s Always More Room”. I subscribe to this daily text and commend it to you: it’s spiritually rich and free for everyone.
J.D. is also a dear friend of mine who has warmly reminded us this Christmas week that even as God made a way when there seemed to be no way, we get to make room for unexpected guests.
These unexpected guests may not be overnight travelers. They may be people in distress, friends who drop by to talk, or unexpected phone calls.
Will we deem these interruptions to our busyness or invitations to surprising blessing?
Let’s resolve together make room in our homes and hearts for the unexpected guest this week…and next week…and the week after that…