No Room?... Make Room!

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 room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:6-7

Years ago, the scriptures above unfolded during a children’s Christmas drama.

The narrator entered from a side door and stood beside the stage. She hollered, “Ready, set, action! Welcome boys and girls! Tonight, we’re going back in time to the starry night Jesus was born. Welcome to Bethlehem!” 

Next, the Innkeeper bounded to center stage. As Mary and Joseph slowly approached, the Innkeeper raised his voice loud enough for the last row to hear. With angry eyes and a frowning face, he boomed, “NO ROOM! We have no room in the Inn.”

Mary and Joseph, attempted to plea for understanding. The Innkeeper silenced them and yelled, “NO ROOM!” 

Mary and Joseph slowly turned to face the crowd, their hopeless heads hung low, shoulders drooped, and spirits squelched.

But wait…Joseph lifted his head at the sound of animals in a nearby stable.  The actors are enthusiastically mooing and baaaing. He gently turns Mary in their direction, to see the animals are inviting them into their manager. Yes! They wave their hooves telling them to come close.

The children in the audience clap and cheer for the animals. Some even joined the heroes with moos and baas of their own. 

The narrator concluded, “Mary gave birth to baby Jesus and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Merry Christmas! The End.”

As a drama director volunteering at church, I wanted to bring the manager scene to life and encourage young children to find the Bible fascinating. But I messed up a little and tapped into their love of animals, not their love for Jesus.

This morning while reading Luke 2, a totally different scene unfolded in my mind. I imagined the Innkeeper feeling compassion for the young couple. Maybe he even apologized then offered the manager as the only space available on his land. Mary and Joseph, humble at a heart and pledged to do the will of God, thanked him for a place to rest and prepare for the Savior of the world. Instead of anger and rejection, I saw compassion and love in the scene. 

Luke’s gospel is the only one to describe the manager scene, so we don’t have many written details. But we do have these two words; NO ROOM. Let those two words drop into your heart and resonate in your mind.

Here are some Wake Up Call Questions to ponder today:

• Will you make room during this busy season to celebrate Jesus’ birth? How so?

• Is it possible for you to have a humble heart and willing spirit to do the will of God even if you’re placed in an uncomfortable spot?

• Instead of being angry when so many demands are upon you, in what ways can you give thanks and find joy in the messiness of life?

Share your thoughts with God and/or with someone else. Let them spur you on to shine a bright light on Jesus during this Christmas season – right where the light belongs.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement