Will You Be Part of His Story?
By Rick Warren
“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.” Luke 2:7 (NASB)
Consider this: The fact that the innkeeper didn’t make room for Jesus did not stop Jesus from being born. History is his story. When the innkeeper said, “No room,” it didn’t hurt God. But the innkeeper missed what would have been the biggest blessing of his life. He missed the privilege of housing the Son of God.
Luke 2:7 says, “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” (NASB).
You don’t change God’s plans when you don’t make room for him—but you miss out! Jesus wants to give you purpose, peace, and power. But for him to do that, you have to make room for him in your heart.
First, Jesus wants to give you purpose. Do you ever feel something is missing in your life? It’s because you were made for purpose and significance, not just money or success. Success is not enough; it doesn’t satisfy.
The Message paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 6:12-13 says, “The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way . . . Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!” The antidote to unfulfillment is to make room for Jesus and what really matters! Don’t shut him out.
Next, Jesus can give you the kind of peace the Bible calls “the peace . . . which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ESV). That means you can have unexplainable peace even when everything around you is in chaos. That kind of peace comes only from Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Finally, Jesus wants to give you power too—the kind of power that allows you to have self-control. It’s interesting that the more control you give to Christ, the more self-control he gives you.
You’ve probably found that sometimes your best efforts aren’t enough; you don’t have enough willpower to overcome your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. You need the Spirit of Christ who gives you the power to have self-control.
Do you want the purpose, peace, and power that only God can provide? You need to make room in your heart for Jesus!
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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