This morning in church, we sang Joy to the World. It's one of my favorites, but as I was thinking through the lyrics, a fresh understanding - and conviction - washed over me. As we sang...
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare him room,And heaven and nature sing,And heaven and nature sing,And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.I began to wonder:
"Is there room in my heart for Jesus?"
"What does it look like to prepare room for Him?"
And then I remembered what Luke tells us about Jesus' birth...
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.And so I began to think about how maybe this issue of not making room in my heart for Jesus is not unique to me. The world, Bethlehem, was not prepared for Jesus' arrival. There was no room for them in the inn. Mary and Joseph were relegated to a barn for the birth of the Messiah, the King. I want to judge the inhabitants of Bethlehem. I want to shake my finger at them with shame and condemnation. They should have known better. And yet...
Is there room in my heart for Jesus? Do I really make room for Him, or do I just fit Him in between everything else - or perhaps worse - just sprinkle a little "Jesus dust" on top of "my life" and ask Him to bless it? Make me happy and comfortable. And, if I'm going to be really honest, do I even know what it looks like to really give Jesus space in my heart - in my life? What does it look like to clear out all the clutter and really let Him have full reign? Honestly, I'm not sure I know.
I'm asking this question. I need your help. I'm asking you: What does it look like to prepare room in your heart for Jesus? What does it look like when you give Him space to do as He wills?
