Friday, November 17
a place for God
I read this is in a book, "A feast for the soul" by Robert M Solomon. It's quite long, but it is really worth reading and giving thought to. Just for all of you, I shall type it out (:If you don't have the time, you can just read the bolded parts.
In his best selling book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey describes how he noticed the way rulers in our world stride around with pomp. He observed: "Queen Elizabeth II had recently visited the US, and 4000 pounds of luggage included 2 outfits for every occasion, a mourning outfit in case someone died, forty pints of plasma, and... She brought along her own hairdresser, two valets, and a host of other attendants. A brief visit of royalty to a foreign country can easily cost 20 million dollars"
What a great difference the visit of our Lord was. He was born in very humble circumstances. His immediate witnesses were dumb animals and poor people. Which parent would understand God who sent His Son to be born in a place like this? Paul describes Jesus as having emptied Himself when He left the throne room in heaven and entered the humble stable of an inn in an obscure town. He could have chosen to be born in a palace, in the corridors of power, in the laps of wealth, luxury, and privilege. But on that day, God stood with the poor and downtrodden, the simple and ordinary people. It was a sign that His kingdom, power and glory were going to be of a different kind.
Christ was born in a stable not only because of His humility, character, mission, and message, but also because there was no room for him at the inn. If the innkeeper had known would that have made a difference? Could he have found some room for Jesus?
The painting of Jesus standing at the door and knocking is familiar to most Christians. Many of us became Christians by asking Jesus to enter our hearts and lives as Lord and Saviour. And what a joy it is when Christ enters a human heart and makes it His dwelling place.
But all too often, the initial joy and fervour erode with time. Like the church in Ephesus, many Christians forsake their first love (Rev 2:4). Their lives become crowded with things, ambitions, distractions, and relationships that take them away from Jesus. In their daily lives, their minds become cluttered with unimportant things. The marketplace concerns of their lives crows out the Master's concerns for them. If they are not careful, their preoccupations become their idols. And these idols act like cancers pushing that which is life-giving out of the way. This then leads to spiritual malaise and a wasting away of the inner life.
Let us not be like old Bethlehem that failed to recognize its King or give Him a proper place. Let us realize that He came into a 'no room at the inn' situation so that we can each have a place prepared for us in the Heavenly Father's wonderful house (Jn 14:2). He entered the humble stable so that we can enter the throne room of heaven. He was placed in a manger (feeding box for the animals) so that we can be placed on the Shepherd's firm and safe shoulders.
Though the world did not have any room in its heart for Jesus, God has a lot of room for each of us in His heart. Such is His persistent and enduring love for us that His birth into this sad and lonely world could not be stopped by anything, not even a 'no vacancy' sign at an inn.
This Christmas is a good time to clear away all that prevents us from loving God with all our hearts. It is a wonderful opportunity to make space for God in our lives. In his classic booklet, my Heart - Christ's Home, Robert B M describes the turning point when one's heart is handed over to Jesus. The Lord is no longer the guest but the owner and master of the heart. We too can give Jesus room in our hearts and invite Him not as a guest but as the owner and master. We must invite Him not into the guest room of our heart but into its throne room.
Why not clear your hear of all unwelcome guests, those who keep Jesus from having His rightful place? Is there room for Him? Let us honour Jesus by giving Him His rightful place in our hearts.
help me to trust.