Make Room in Your Inn for Him

Make Room in Your Inn for Him

O Come O come Emmanuel

As today is the 4^th Sunday in Advent and we approach Christmas and the coming of the Lord it is right to prepare a space for Christ in our hearts.  A savior needed, a savior sent.  A call to belong. Will we repent?  Will you accept Christ?  If you have never graciously received the gift that Christ came to give I pray that you will choose to accept it today.

The prophets spoke of the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, to save the world.  Jesus’ birth is foretold.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah promises the coming of the Prince of Peace and offers a description of the Messiah.

The birth is fulfilled.  The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes that Jesus fulfills prophecy.  Both God’s promises to Israel and their history with God are treated as prophecy.  Prophecy interprets the story of Jesus.  The fulfillment transforms what the prophecies mean.  Matthew is written primarily to a Jewish audience with many references that Jesus Christ is for all people.

Matthew 1: 18 – 23

18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

As Joseph and Mary came into Bethlehem they were turned away at each door they tried.  Each door was closed to them.  There was no room for Him in the Inn. We have God coming to meet us in a world filled with sin, suffering, and death.  Yet so many people turned Him away.  

Today we still find many who have no room for Him in many Inns.  Today as much as ever we need to call to God to be with us, Emmanuel.  With this Christmas holiday take time to bring Jesus Christ into your heart and let Him give you eternal life.

Prayer:

Shepherd of Israel,

may Jesus, Emmanuel and son of Mary,

be more than just a dream in our hearts.

With the apostles, prophets, and saints,

save us, restore us,

and lead us in the way of grace and peace,

that we may bear your promise into the world. Amen.