If you want to be sure you are making room for Jesus, you must make room for others. If all those in Bethlehem knew Mary would give birth to the Messiah, they would have given her a different reception. Today, Jesus isn’t visible to the common eye. He is often hidden. Jesus likes to disguise himself as the least of these.
We must not forget to show hospitality to strangers. Many store up their blessings and gifts rather than share them with others. It is important to make room in our heart for others. Mary made room for Jesus. Joseph wanted to put Mary away privately. This baby wasn’t convenient. It wasn’t even his, but Joseph changed his mind and made room for Jesus. The wise men prepared their gifts beforehand. Their gifts brought them before the king. What gifts do you have? Your gifts will make room for the King and bring you into His presence, especially as you minister to others.
Many live such busy lives that there is no room for the things that really matter. The world is a noisy place. A cluttered heart can keep you from from ministering to others. Our heart can be filled with worry and anxiety, busyness, frustration, emptiness, sorrow, resentment, unforgiveness, and regret, just to name a few. It’s time for a heart check; time to remove the junk and make room for Jesus.
To go deeper, take some time to answer the questions below:
Do you think if all those in Bethlehem knew Mary would give birth to the Messiah, she would have gotten a different reception? Would you have made room for Joseph and Mary if they showed up at your house? Why do most people not recognize Jesus? In what ways does Jesus disguise himself to us? What is meant by “the least?” Why is it so important that we leave room in our heart and lives for others?
Have you ever taken time to count your blessings? What are some that come to mind? What gifts do you have? Why does God give us blessings and gifts? Why should we share our blessings and not store them up? In what ways do our gifts make room for us and bring us into the presence of the great? Can you name a few examples from the Bible? Who is the greatest?
What does it mean to be show hospitality? Why should we not forget to entertain strangers? What are you willing to do to bring people to Jesus? How can a cluttered heart keep you from ministering to others? What are some things that crowd your heart? What does it look like to declutter your heart? How can you rid yourself of all the noise and distractions in the world today? How can you make room for Jesus?
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Scriptures used in this teaching: Luke 2:6-7; 2 Corinthians 7:1-3; Matthew 25:31-46; Proverbs 18:16; Luke 12:16-18; Hebrews 13:2; Mark 2:1-5; Matthew 9:23-25
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