Prepare Him Room

Last weekend was our Sunday School Christmas program.

It had all the standard elements: toddlers frantically waving at parents and thereby missing their “cues,” the sheep who sat down on the stage with her back facing the audience (frustrating the mother who was attempting to take photos), the angel who fell off the stage, and the baby who decided to chew on the halo atop the angel in front of her.

In the middle of the chaos I heard the words of the beloved Christmas carol echo around me; “Let every heart, prepare Him room…”

It was like I was hearing it for the first time. Let every heart prepare Him room.

I watched the young parents playing Mary; settled in the makeshift stable and gazing at their infant son. Imagine that - his first Christmas pageant and cast as the baby Jesus! On that Holy Night amidst the chaos of Bethlehem…one innkeeper prepared Him room. When the rest of the town was full…one man made room.

It occurred to me…that’s what this was all about. Every heart, preparing Him room. Remembering the nativity story and spending the Advent season preparing our hearts anew…taking inventory and clearing space. Making room for a Saviour.

Our world is full, especially at Christmas. Busyness marks the season. Our hearts and lives are filled with noble pursuits such as spending time with loved ones and giving to the less fortunate. We budget our time and work off checklists in order to be “ready for Christmas.” But what do we do to prepare our heart for the season?

And don’t be deceived! The room He requires is not the meager stable quarters…but the very throne of your heart. For the wonder of the Christmas story is not that the baby was born, but that the baby grew up! And lo and behold, this was no ordinary baby, but a Saviour…a King!

Amidst the bedlam of our world today: fallen angels, those who seek the praise of man, and ones who turn their back on Truth…He wants centre stage of your life. And not only at Christmas. What are you doing to prepare Him room?

Joy to the World…the LORD IS COME!!