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If someone asked you to tell them the Christmas story, how would you go about it? Would you tell them about the un-wed pregnant teenager? Maybe you would tell of the angels appearing to the shepherds or to the astrologers. You could tell someone about Simeon and Anna in the temple. An even easier way to tell the story is to concentrate on the manger, the animals and the star in the sky. How would you tell the Christmas story? I, personally, would focus on one, sometimes forgotten detail—the story that tells us, that when Jesus was ready to come into this Earth, there was no room.

The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. There was no room for them. No vacancy. No place. Words that still seem to hit close to home, even today. We may be guilty of having no room for Jesus in our lives.

In a world that seeks to crowd Jesus out, where busyness abounds, and hearts are stirred to focus on other things, it can be hard sometimes to choose to keep Jesus first. It's all too easy to get caught in the busyness of the holiday season, our focus gets blurred and what’s most important during this season gets pushed aside. It takes an active and daily choice to put Christ first, especially in a culture that says you’re too busy to focus there, or, that life is too full, and there’s no more room.

May God help us to choose wisely, which voices we listen to, and where we give our attention to this holiday season, because Jesus is the One who brings true meaning to Christmas. Jesus is the One who brings real peace in this hectic season. Jesus is the only One worthy of our time and attention. We can know all of this in our heads, but may God help us to really believe it in our hearts, and choose to live it out this season.

If someone asked you to tell them the Christmas story, how would you go about it? I would tell them about the virgin Mary, Elizabeth, the donkey, the angels, the wise men, the shepherds, the manger, the star, the gifts, Simeon and Anna, Joseph, the animals and the birth of a baby. I would tell them all of the story, but I would also add the following—this is no ordinary baby—this is God, the Kings of Kings and Lords of Lords, Creator of Heaven and Earth in flesh and His name is JESUS! Is there room for the Saviour of the world in your heart? 

I look forward to worshipping, fellowshipping and celebrating the goodness of God in Jesus this Sabbath.

God’s richest blessings, David Peñate