Text: Luke 2:1-7
The town was teeming with people and the couple arrived late, the journey slow and uncomfortable. Mary would give birth any day now, but it was a trip they had to make. The law required it.
By the time they arrived there was no room, or at least none that was offered them. So they made a place with the animals, and that’s where she delivered Him.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
– Luke 2:7, ESV
Had they no friends or family there to take them in? Was there no room in the marketplace or the schools, the temple or the synagogue? Why was this place with the livestock—the crudest of all possible options—the only where they could find room?
Charles Spurgeon had a theory that this is not unusual, that there is very little room in society provided for our Christ. Spurgeon wrote, “There is no space for the Prince of peace but with the humble and contrite spirits which by grace he prepares to yield him shelter.”
Friends, that’s you. You are where He dwells.
Perhaps you have an objection to this. Spurgeon covers some common ones here:
“‘Well,’ says one, ‘I have room for him, but I am not worthy that he should come to me.’ Ah! I did not ask about worthiness; have you room for him? ‘Oh! but I feel it is a place not at all fit for Christ!’ Nor was the manger a place fit for him, and yet there was he laid. ‘Oh! but I have been such a sinner; I feel as if my heart had been a den of beasts and devils!’ Well, the manger had been a place where beasts had fed. Have you room for him?
“Never mind what the past has been; he can forget and forgive. It mattereth not what even the present state may be if thou mournest it. If thou hast but room for Christ he will come and be thy guest.”
Do you have room for Him, dear ones? Oh, how He longs to dwell richly in you.
Jesus, come and dwell in us. May we have room for you today and always. Amen.
For an added layer of worship during this sweet season of adoration and expectation, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for Advent 2014! You can find the complete SheReadsTruth | O Come Let Us Adore Him playlist at this link, or listen to today’s track on the player below. Enjoy!
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84 thoughts on "The Birth of Jesus"
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Good
It’s so easy to make excuses for why our circumstances don’t measure up to Christ’s love for us. I love the comparison that beasts stayed where Jesus was born so nothing can be too bad for us to come to Him. :)
I’m so thankful that Jesus resides in me!!! I am so unworthy! More unworthy than I could ever even know. Yet at the same time, I am far more loved than I could ever know! So loved! So cherished! Chosen daughter of the King!
I am praying for you & your husband with love & hope…
What a beautiful glorious message of hope! I face this Christmas at 21 with a fresh diagnosis of depression, anxiety and a relapse into bulimia. I feel so unworthy. That screams in my head every single day. But I am choosing to remind myself constantly that the darkness CANNOT survive the light! And so I come and welcome The Christ, the One who overcomes my darkness. I am weak and lowly, but He is welcome- always welcome in my heart. Oh Lord, you came in our mess that we might know that we can always come to you no matter how great our darkness. I love you Lord!
Jess- as someone who has walked with the suffocating, nagging hurt of depression for years, I sympathize. If you’re on FB or Instagram, follow valerieweiners. She has been in your same place and overcome it all. And what she turned her hurt into is amazing- you must see it. Love and prayers headed to you, sister.
Thank you for telling us about Valerie!
Thank you Jesus for showing how much you love us just as we are and to share it with others!
I'm just so grateful. My heart seems like a shallow place to live, but praying for more room here. He deserves to be glorified even in this broken vessel.
so often I make room for him only in the rooms (of my life; heart) that are fit for a guest. I shut him out of the manager because it is so unattractive. forgetting his humility and my own depravity that requires his incarnate presence
I never really gave much thought to how there being no room at the inn, or anyplace else, would mirror there being no room in our society 2000 years later. But it's true- He comes into the mess. Our pastor did a sermon series a few years ago about the mess of Christmas- how it was an inconvenience for Mary and Joseph to travel, how Mary birthed Jesus in a stinking dirty barn. It's no wonder that Christmas every year brings similar messes and inconveniences for so many of us (granted, the inconvenience of traveling today is nothing like it was then, but the emotions are probably the same). Jesus comes to us and dwells in us even in the midst of our messiest messes and inconvenient inconveniences. He's familiar with those circumstances. He wants to be there with and in us. And that is such good news not just for this time of year, but for all year.
Come, Lord, and consume my heart. You are eagerly welcomed. Mend any brokenness that may get in your way, and open areas that have been closed off from life experiences, in order to make more room for Your holy presence.
Oh how I love how the Holy Spirit refreshes those Scriptures that seem so familiar and enlightens us with Truth over and over. Today's reading lead me to read further and I stopped at the familiar account of Anna. Something in me wants to be like Anna…to make room in my heart, mind, entire life for a devotion where I sit ever close to Jesus. The theme from Amanda's words of making room goes right with this. What do I need to clear out? What do I hold more dearly than my closeness to the Lord? Get to work on my heart, Lord! Amen!
“What do I need to clear out? What do I hold more dearly than my closeness to the Lord?”
Such great questiones to ask, thanks for these humbling thoughts Sarah.
Oh Dear Jesus, please please please come and stay in my heart!! Shine that beautiful light in all the dark places that need it. Thank you so much for being born and going through all the junk we’ve gone through.. So you could truly say ” I know how you feel”. You’ve been there too.
Once again, I’m so delighted with this study, I can’t you girls at SRT enough.:)
*cant thank you girls *^
I am certainly praying for you and your family. If you have an opportunity please go to youtube and enter in Veronica Petrucci and Made it out Alive. She is a christian artist who attempted to suicide and fortunately was interrupted by her husband coming home. The song, Made it out Alive is her testimony of what happened.
I want to let you know, that you are God's creation, you are special, you are lovely and you are God's Girl. In Isaiah 61:3 it states: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Give Him the ashes of your broken life and He gives you back beauty. Be blessed awesome woman of God.
I pray that as the day goes on, I will be mindful to make room–in all that I do. Being mindful of Jesus and allowing Him into your details, makes our relationship more intimate and true. I pray that others would also be able to do this as well. Thank you, Lord for this advent season, and help us all to bring you back to the center of it all. Just to make a little room.
I really loved the line "if thou hath but room for Christ he will come and be they guest". That was so good to read. I'm really hoping that I find it easier to believe than it is now.
Praying for all of you! I to also struggle with feeling "worthy" but for the past few months I've been asking God everyday to show me how much I am worth to Him and how He sees me as His beloved. And you know what, hes answering those prayers and they are working! I am a daughter of a King. He goes before me and He sees me worthy (Just like in Esther). We are all worthy in His eyes and His love for us is so strong.
Come, Lord Jesus. There’s room in my heart for You. Thanks for your unconditional love for me. Let me be willing to follow where you lead. Thank you Jesus!
The word was certainly shared here this morning and how it has spoken to my heart. I used the excuse many times that I was not worthy of going to church, mingling with Christians because of where I was in my life. What a great reminder that Christ will come into our hearts no matter where we are. We just have to open the door.
What a great Christmas message!
A beautiful message that reminds us that we may come as we are. Let us not forget that we aren’t merely to make room for Him, we are to clear out everything else and let Him take over. He deserves nothing less than everything. Who He is demands that we are fully surrendered to Him!
Every morning, I get my coffee, sit down in my favorite chair, and open my laptop as if it is a beautifully wrapped Christmas present. I have no idea what's coming in the devo that day, but I know it will bless my soul. Thank you SRT for one of the most powerful devos yet!
One of my most frequent responses is that I am not worthy. But Spurgeon's question stops my in my so called humble tracks – Have you room for Him? It's almost as if – now, this is painful to admit – it's easier to say I'm not worthy rather than say, come Lord. Why? Because when He comes, I'm going to have to make changes in my own "house" so that there is enough room. A little uncomfortable sometimes. But oh so worth it :-)
Yep Janet, me too!! Sometimes I just can’t wait to get out of bed and do the same. Such a blessing this is.:)
Me too! except it's on an iPad. I have tried in the past to "get" the idea of Advent, but all the extra activities have always totally overwhelmed me and it it became one more "to-do". I'm so thankful for this SRT study to guide me in what Advent is! While I haven't commented very much, I've appreciated reading the comments & interaction each day – they help me understand each study a little more. Janet, I totally agree – I've said/thought "I'm not worthy" so many times, I think you're right – it was easier to say than "Come, Lord". For me though, it was because of the fear He wouldn't come. Fear of disappointment, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment. Your comment today connected these pieces for me, thank you for being vulnerable & sharing your heart this morning. I'm becoming increasingly excited for a new year, a new year without the cloud of disappointment shadowing with "what-ifs".
At times I’m that person that Spurgeon talks about. I know God loves me and welcomes me yet sometimes a little voice inside reminds me of my sin and makes me feel unworthy. But I love this comparison of the manger. A beautiful way to reminds us of His humble begging among those who welcome him.
So thankful for how this study has focused my heart this season!
I have never thought of why Jesus was born in a stable, I have always just read the story and took it at face
Value. It is truly the humblest of places to dwell.
Lord, help me make room for You! I am dirtier than that manger where You lay, yet You want to be here with me. Thank You, Lord!
Amen Joanne….xxx
So encouraging. Im truly grateful for this message today.
Reading this gave me chills this morning:
"If thou hast but room for Christ he will come and be thy guest."
What wonderful and awe-inspiring news! Hallelujah!
I needed this today, so much. I couldn't sleep last night, as I've been fighting an illness for a week now, as I sat alone in the deep dark night, the enemy chased me. He put things in front of me from our past, years ago, that I didn't know existed. It made me want to shrivel up at the new awareness, at the overwhelming realizations, at the remembering, at the very unpleasant remembering. It made me sad, it hurt, it ached to wreak havoc….. BUT I had this underlying awareness that all would be well, that what I was seeing didn't represent God's heart for me, for my family, it was simply a box of poisoned chocolates delivered in a pretty box, by an evil that desires to eek HIS way in where Jesus needs to always be. So yes, do I have room for Jesus? It ISN'T worthy, it ISN'T pretty, it ISN'T clean ….. but do I have a place for Jesus? Oh, how I have a place for Jesus. I am so humbled and thankful for His desire to be with me, to cover me, to accept the place, the room I have for Him. Yes, yes, yes….. I have a place for Jesus! ~ B
Love it!!! And praying you get over your illness soon.:)
So beautiful. Thank you.
Amen dear friend…and beautifully said…
Get well soon…in the name of Jesus…Amen…
Love you sis,…xxx
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for thee. ❤️
Ah Sarah, what a great reminder of my childhood…
Oh come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you….oh Lord may these words be true always….xxx
“There is no space for the Prince of peace but with the humble and contrite spirits." Today is a day to self-examine. Do I see pride or humility? Self-promotion or contrition? I have so much work to do to prepare Him room.
The wonder of grace is found in this: When we have no room, He does not turn to leave until a day when our dark corners are clean. He enters our mess, picks up a broom, packs boxes. I want to have my heart "company ready" before I let him wonder around. But King Jesus wants to come in, no matter the condition of my heart. That thought alone washes my pride away and fills me with humility.
Whew! Kelly! Yes. Thank you for these words. I, too, felt the need to examine where my pride creeps in, where just ME takes over. I your broom and box analogy!
Kelly, I love the way you think….He enters our mess, picks up a broom, packs boxes…Love it. Xxx
Oh, I needed this today.
A week ago, I tried to kill myself. I felt so hopeless, so unloveable and unworthy of even my own life. I am thankful that my husband found me, and brought me to the hospital where they saved my life.
I have been stuck in a locked psych ward since then, surrounded by people with varying degrees of mental illnesses, homeless people, recovering addicts. I made friends with people I never planned to surround myself with.
I got home last night. Today I start a two week program of daily counseling and therapy.
If I’m honest, I am still depressed. I still hear the voices that tell me that I am not good enough, and I am still in a lot of pain. But this past week has shown me that there is still so much goodness to life. There are so many people who have come forward to pour love out onto me.
While I was there, I was reminded that this is really what Christmas is all about, isn’t it? Jesus coming down into the muck and the filth of the manger, but also of my life. I felt that I couldn’t worship God while I felt so dirty inside, but Christmas, the resurrection, tell a different story.
Sisters, will you please pray with me in this season of recovery? I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I need Christ. And also for my husband. He has understandably been quite shaken up by all of this.
Praying for you this morning Kara. ❤️
Praying for you and your husband.
Praying for you to experience God’s grace in a fresh, new way this Christmas season. I had lived many years with guilt and shame, not feeling good enough until I walked into a Celebrate Recovery meeting and worked through so many things through their step studies. They meet all over the US and I highly recommend them! Praying for healing and hope for your husband and you.
Prayers for you and your husband.
Oh sister, I am praying for you. Praying for God's peace over you, that it may wash over your concerns and your feeling of lackings. That His Grace bind you so tight, you are overwhelmed with His love FOR you. I am prayerful over your future, that it glisten with the joy of the Lord for you and your husband. That God gift you a glimpse of His intentions for you. That you know beyond doubt that you are the daughter of a great king whose heart is for you. That HE is worthy, that HE is love, that HE is grace ….. and that those are all the difference.
Many more prayers coming over the days Karajade….many more! ~ B
It is a long journey of healing. Praying that God will fill you with Himself, that you will tangibly feel the peace that passes understandind, that our Lord will strengthen and sustain your husband as he walks with you through this season. I pray also that you will grow closer to Him who loves you more than His own life, that you will find Truth and rest it and that the Truth will whisper louder than the lies that tangle.
Merry Christmas.
Absolutely praying, Kara.
Praying for you and your husband. Please remember you are so very loved! Nothing you do will ever change Christ’s love for you.
Praying for you KaraJade. I’m glad your husband found you. May the voice you hear be that of The Spirit telling you, you’re loved, you’re special, you’re His daughter.
You are loved, and you are being prayed for…
Oh sister! I have been where you are! Many years ago I too tried to kill myself. Seek Him, Run to Him. I remember the voices, I remember the battles with those voices. They are not God. They are not the One who died FOR you. Oh hun, I ache for you this morning. As one who is twelve years and one month past my attempt, Jesus is the answer. Seek Him with all your heart, and He can actually make those voices go away. I love you KaraJade, and I will be praying. If you need anything let me know.
KaraJade… Praying for you precious woman of God. That’s exactly the meaning of Christmas! He joins us in our muck and speaks love and truth over us tenderly and draws us out of the mess to Himself and our identity in Him. Have a read of Ezekiel 16 :) when I feel accused there’s a song that always fights the Enemy’s lies : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu7rIdMd3nc&list=PLyS1GjD6vlAETPmuoOREAvJzAFrSyV923&index=19 – if you can copy and paste that into your internet browser- otherwise type ‘Jon thurlow 02.08.2011 part 1′ into YouTube. It’s beautiful : ” There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, the old has gone, the new has come!’ Satan… Get behind her!
Praying for you and your family. I have been in that place myself. The voice of your Saviour says I love you right now, as you are. You, KaraJade are precious, loved, worthy of the love of the Eternal Creator. May joy grow in your heart that you delight in the everyday presences of Jesus.
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with precious Karajade. Thank you for your unconditional love toward her. Thank you that she is not alone in this battle. Thank you for walking with her and being her strength as she begins this program. Lord, let her not believe the lies of the enemy. Lord, remind her of your promises to never leave her nor forsake her. Father, I pray that she would experience the deep peace and joy that comes from recognizing your deep love for her.
Bless her husband and give him the strength to stand by her and fight this battle together with her. Thank you for the victory that you have already won for them. In Jesus name, Amen.
Oh, sweet one, you are so precious to Him! He loves you with an everlasting love and so desires to fill you with that love, with that life He has for you, that very life He is. Many of us are pouring out prayers for you, broken-hearted prayers. Cling to Him and the truth that He loves you just as you are. For THAT is truth, not the lies that you are hearing. The One who knows you best loves you most! Prayers and love to you and your husband. Prayers for the love and light that He is to drive away the dark and to fill you with His peace.
Praying for you both dear one.
Praying for you KaraJade! You are not alone. You are loved. Praying for the miracle of Christ’s presence to meet you where you are in this very moment.
Praying for you! I found this quote on Pinterest and I thought I'd share: "When thoughts bombard our mind saying, "Who Do You Think You Are?" Just smile and say, "A Child of the Most High God." We are daughters of a King, he goes before us and we are not moved by the ways of world (Book of Esther). He created you for such a time as this and you are so loved by Him.
Kara, praying for you and your husband. May the lord wrap you in his peace and love. your are his child and so precious to him!
Prayers for you and your husband too
Dear Lord,
Today I lift up KaraJade to you Lord let her know she is so loved. You make no mistakes. Lord block the voices from her ears and let her only hear your words of love and encouragement. Put a protective hedge around her to keep the enemy away and let her only feel you. Life here is so hard and so messy but help her be patient and know you have a plan for her and you will call her home in your time.
Please Lord also encourage her husband in this time of trial. Help him to see your hand working in his wife and in his own self. Blanket them in love and peace and surround them with family and loved ones this Christmas. In Christ's sweet name…amen.
Dear Jesus, please let Kara see how much she means to you. You love her unconditionally. Give her and her husband comfort and peace, help them to see You in this,and keep their eyes focused only on You. Let her make room for You. Keep any bad thoughts away from her head and heart. We lift her up to a You, in Jesus’ name.xo
KaraJade,
Your words ring true to so many women today. Please don't feel alone and defeated! Jesus will meet you right where you are and if you let HIM in he can transform your life! I promise I've felt his AMAZING GRACE and unconditional love… I pray that he surrounds you completely with his love and holds you tightly! He will never ever let go of you! Lord please help KaraJade and meet her right where she is today. In your name I pray. Amen
Praying for you. You are oh so loved.
Karajade, there is no doubt….that you are loved…no doubt what do ever….and that is this side of heaven….how much more our Heavenly Father? How much more the One gave it All up for us…Jesus…Praying for you my precious Sister….holding you up in prayer, both yourself and your husband and family….hold fast to the One, whose love, whose compassion, whose arms wrap around us, and whose love, meets us right where we are….He love you so….as do we here at SRT….Emmanuel….God with us…God with you….big hug….Karajade….xxx
Praying for you precious daughter of the King!
So many prayers offered up by our sisters, please know I am AMENing them all.
Even if we are not gathered together in physical body, we are together in mind and intangible place… Such mighty power in community prayer. You are worthy. You are loved.
Karajade, I am praying for you and your husband this morning! May the joy of your salvation chase away the darkness that tries to surround you.
thank you for sharing your story.you will be in my prayers and your husband too. I understand those dark places too.i have seen Christ deliver me out of them time and time again. he helps us Overcome. I also found intense comfort listening to For King and Country's song " shoulders" and " you matter" . The whole CD is awesome to meet you were you are and feel the Love and Comfort of Christ. I pray He washes you with Joy.
This reminds me of a song and the chorus is: Make my heart your home, make my heart your home anytime that you want to move anytime at all you can make my heart your home. This reminds me that Jesus is not looking for the richest, most successful or even the prettiest or handsome person to dwell in. He wants to dwell in the heart of a person who is willing to let Him in. Thank you for reminding me that He loves me that He wants me to be open and available to Him. Thank you SRT. Be blessed ladies!
Dear, Dear, Dear Jesus,
Thank you….
Thank you for this very special and precious gift, of your birth and your coming..Thank you that through YOU are the greatest gifts Our Father ever gave…Thank you that because if these great gifts, you have come to dwell in me…the unworthy…, the sinner…to rest in me, to give me peace, to give me Hope….to BE my HOPE….
Thank you Jesus…
Jesus, I so want to say, I'm sorry for the lack of 'special-Ness' ( by today's standards), at your birth, but I do believe, this was the plan all along., for us/me to understand the hugeness, the vastness, the absolute 'to I infinity and beyond…..' love you have for us…for me….it had to happen this way….that kinda love….WOW, my heart sings, as tears rolls shamelessly down my face….that is a love most can only dream of, and only in our human world….but to know YOU, and to accept you into our lives, Our homes, our hearts….that opens doors…in our hearts that we never imagined there were keys for….
Thank you Jesus for this gift of Love, the greatest love EVER, not just for now, this season, but for Always….and not just for those of us that believe, but for ALL… no matter who, no matter what, no matter where, or how…this gift of your birth and coming, is for everyone, and I, I sing, of the HOPE, that is wrapped in your birth, the HOPE, that.. Praise God,… you carry into each and every heart, that is open to you…I love the word HOPE….I love you Jesus….
What can I give Him……?
Give Him my heart…
Jesus, thank you..Thank you…..
Sister's, 2 more sleeps….'til the greatest gift ever given….are you prepared…? Lovely to be able to join in today…sending you all love, good cheer and joy…xxx
The people walking in darkness have seen…..(Will see) a great light….lsaiah 9:2……Amen…x
Thank you Tina, that was beautiful! Xo
Just as I am without one plea
This is the second time I have heard this message this week… maybe it’s something I need to pay attention to! I think I believe that I have room for him, but don’t always live like it
Neither do I always live like I have room for Him, Becca. In fact, I was just thinking how ugly my heart has been lately. I hate it. The state of my heart is as frustrating and angering as those little things I tend to lash out against. I told my husband just yesterday that the way I feel is so extreme toward things that are not that big a deal, that I don't even know what to do with my responses. The best I can do is hold them at bay. It takes everything in me not to respond according to how I feel, much less respond the exact opposite, the way I know I should respond. And yet, I sense the Spirit at work in me. I fall. I am forgiven. I fall again. Lord, continue to break our heart for our sin. Continue to prepare our hearts to make you room. In Jesus' Name.
So often it is my objections that keep me from God! He says “come!” But I say, “no, I have to be better before I come”. How ludicrous to think that I can make myself acceptable to God! No, I must simply flee to Him! Throw myself on His mercy. Come in faith and repentance. And in so much thanksgiving that He would call ME to Himself.
Amen!
You DO speak truth! God bless you and all of your family this Christmas season, as well as to everyone who reads this! :D
Moria Peters- Holy Day http://youtu.be/gQVvhjjripw
Some say a holiday, but I don’t see it that way. Oh, how I hope and pray that this could be a holy day. Happy Holy-days!
Love and Joy,
Robin & Family