Preparing Room in the Inn of Our Hearts - Story

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The innkeeper in Bethlehem has become history's most misunderstood character. We picture him as heartless, turning away the holy family. But Luke simply says 'there was no room in the inn' (Luke 2:7). The innkeeper wasn't cruel—he was overwhelmed. Every room was occupied, every space claimed. Yet he found a place, even if it was humble. The question Advent poses isn't whether we're good or bad people, but whether we have room. Our lives, like that ancient inn, can become so full of good things—work, relationships, activities, even ministry—that there's no space for what matters most. Jesus doesn't demand a mansion; He's content with a stable. But He does require room. In Revelation 3:20, Christ doesn't force entry: 'I stand at the door and knock.' He waits for invitation. The tragedy isn't that we're hostile to Christ, but that we're too busy for Him. Advent is about creating space—not just in our calendars, but in our hearts. What needs to be cleared out to make room for Emmanuel, God with us? Like Mary, we're called to say 'yes' to God's surprising presence, even when it disrupts our plans. The inn was full, but the stable was available. Sometimes God's greatest gifts come through our apparent inadequacies.