You can have MY room

It all seems so romantic and rustic and rather idyllic.  Images of a cozy stable, a new-born baby and sheep and shepherds all ‘round about the happy couple welcoming their first-born, Jesus.  

I’m more inclined to think of the young lad who was the innkeeper in a play about the Christmas story.  The practices all went very well and he would shout: “No room!” at Mary and Joseph, and then slam the door of his inn.  However, the night of the actual play, it ended rather differently.  For this little innkeeper, the story became so real that he had a change of heart.  After the shouting and slamming, he opened the door again and with tears in his eyes, he said: “Wait!  Please come back.  You can have MY room.” He got it right!  A King was to be born and he wanted the monarch to have the best place he could offer.  I wonder, this Christmas, is there room in your heart for this Saviour?  

One of my favourite Christmas carols: 

From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable

From the squalor of a borrowed stable, by the Spirit and a virgin's faith;

To the anguish and the shame of scandal; came the Saviour of the human race.

But the skies were filled with the praise of heaven, shepherds listen as the angels tell

Of the Gift of God come down to man, at the dawning of Immanuel.

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners, humble servant in the Father's hands,

Filled with power and the Holy Spirit, filled with mercy for the broken man.

Yes, He walked my road and He felt my pain; joys and sorrows that I know so well;

Yet His righteous steps give me hope again - I will follow my Immanuel.

Through the kisses of a friend's betrayal, He was lifted on a cruel cross;

He was punished for a world's transgressions, He was suffering to save the lost.

He fights for breath, He fights for me, loosing sinners from the claims of hell;

And with a shout our souls are free - death defeated by Immanuel.

Now He's standing in the place of honour, crowned with glory on the highest throne,

Interceding for His own beloved, ‘til His Father calls to bring them home!

Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds; hope of heaven or the fear of hell;

But the Bride will run to her Lover's arms, giving glory to Immanuel!

Stuart TownendCopyright © 1999 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com

I love David Wesley’s rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYXFU8HugMY

The title is a reminder that God came to earth in a spirit of meekness, gentleness and humility, and yet people are still looking for a great king to rescue them, to pay a ransom for them to be forever free.  Our literature is full of sweeping sagas of great saviours, but do we not know that He has already come, has already paid the greatest ransom of all, by dying on a cross, and then rising again?                                                                                      His name is  Immanuel, “God with us”,(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).    

Merry Christmas!   Joyeux Noël!    Feliz Navidad!