And it came to past in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2:1-7 NKJV

Today is my, now 7 year old, niece’s birthday.  She has recently begun to give away some of her toys.  She had many, many toys.  I was glad to see her start doing this, because I was wondering where she was going to put any new toys she might get for her birthday or Christmas.

There is a show about people who hoard things.  You will see a house full of things that are stacked up with just a small pathway to walk through.

I am not an organized person by any means, but when things start to get cluttered around me, I get a little anxious.  I don’t do well with clutter and overcrowding.  I try to go through my home several times a year and get rid of things that are no longer being used to avoid overcrowding and clutter.  I am amazed by how much stuff we accumulate in a year’s time.

The Christmas season often leaves our lives feeling overcrowded and cluttered.  We put decorations in our home that take up the space of furniture, so we have to find somewhere to put the furniture.  We engage in activities that take up time that we already don’t have, so we have to find more time to get everything done.  We buy presents that take up space and we have to have a place to store these things until they are given to their recipients.  Then we receive presents that we have to have room for in our homes or cars or wherever they go.

The month of December seems to be all about making room in our homes, our lives and our schedules.  But I can’t help but think about our scripture passage today and the overcrowding that must have been going on in Judea.  Mary and Joseph had traveled all this way for this census.  However, many people had come into town for this census and the town was overcrowded.  Not only were the town residents there, but so were many other people.  If you have ever been in New Orleans at Mardi Gras, then you know what I mean.  The city is not only full of residents going about their daily lives, but they are flooded with visitors from all over.  This makes for a very crowded city.

Mary and Joseph roll into town and no doubt they are tired and Mary is pregnant so I am sure that she is extremely exhausted and uncomfortable.  They were probably looking forward to a nice warm bath and a comfortable bed, but there was just no room.  The innkeeper offered to allow them to stay in his stable.  He couldn’t give them the best place, but he could offer them something.

But obviously this busy, bustling town had no idea what was really going on.  They were about to welcome the King of kings.  They were about to welcome the  Prince of Peace.  They were about to welcome the Lord of Lords, the Heavenly Host, the Eternal Father into this world, in their town.  They had no idea.  They were busy going about their business.

Isn’t that how we are today?  We are so busy going about our business, or our busyness, that we forget the most important business of all.  We forget to make room for our Savior.  We forget to take time to read the Bible and pray. We can’t make time for praise and worship. We forget to take time to develop a close relationship with our Lord and Savior.  We just don’t have any room in our lives.

My friend, if your life is full and you have no room, then I am begging you to make room.  There is not one thing in your life that is more important than your relationship with Jesus Christ.  I promise you that when you get up to that great white throne of judgement that God is not going to care if you had the cleanest house or the best looking yard.  He is not going to care if you worked hard enough to have the newest and best vehicle.  He is not going to care if you won the award for the best worker on your job. He is not going to care about how many hobbies you had or clubs where you had membership.  He is going to care about the kind of relationship you had with His Son.  He is going to care whether or not you made ample room in your life for the gift that He sent to each and everyone of us those many years ago.

I beg of you to get rid of some of the clutter that overcrowds your life and give Jesus first place.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth, I want to leave you with these questions.  Are you giving Jesus the best you’ve got, does He have first place in your heart?  Or, do you just squeeze Him in where you can find a little room?  My prayer for you today is that you are giving Jesus the first and best, because that is exactly what He did for you.  He didn’t hold back, He died for you and for me, giving us His all.  I pray that you will live for Him today.

Have a great day!