If you ever want to do an interesting Bible study, take a look at the characters of Christmas. Each one has their own story to tell. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the angels, even Herod who was scared the Baby born that night would destroy his career and disrupt his lifestyle.
One of the characters that interest me most isn’t even named in the Bible, and yet his story appears in Luke 2:7. It’s the story of the Innkeeper who turned Mary and Joseph away, “because there was no room for them in the inn.” It wasn’t because the guy was hard-hearted. He was just busy. Much too busy.
Because of the census demanded by Rome, Bethlehem was literally crawling with people. It was crazier than SW Florida in peak season! If the Innkeeper had only known that the Baby to be born that night was the Son of God, he would have found room! But he missed the Baby. He had a business to run, customers to serve, and books to keep. Certainly God understood that he had to make a living and save for retirement. So it was that this nameless Innkeeper missed his moment.
The holiday season is a busy time of year. As a matter of fact, life is busy and schedules are straining at the breaking point. The danger is that in our concern with making a living and getting ahead in life we miss the fact that Jesus came to give us gifts that no amount of money can buy.
So learn a lesson from the Innkeeper and pause this Christmas to find out who this Baby really is and what He came to give. The answer will amaze you!
Pastor Todd Weston
One of the characters that interest me most isn’t even named in the Bible, and yet his story appears in Luke 2:7. It’s the story of the Innkeeper who turned Mary and Joseph away, “because there was no room for them in the inn.” It wasn’t because the guy was hard-hearted. He was just busy. Much too busy.
Because of the census demanded by Rome, Bethlehem was literally crawling with people. It was crazier than SW Florida in peak season! If the Innkeeper had only known that the Baby to be born that night was the Son of God, he would have found room! But he missed the Baby. He had a business to run, customers to serve, and books to keep. Certainly God understood that he had to make a living and save for retirement. So it was that this nameless Innkeeper missed his moment.
The holiday season is a busy time of year. As a matter of fact, life is busy and schedules are straining at the breaking point. The danger is that in our concern with making a living and getting ahead in life we miss the fact that Jesus came to give us gifts that no amount of money can buy.
So learn a lesson from the Innkeeper and pause this Christmas to find out who this Baby really is and what He came to give. The answer will amaze you!
Pastor Todd Weston