Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem to be counted at the mandate of the government. They were frantically looking for a place to stay. Mary was going into labor. No doubt, the pains were growing close together.They arrived at the Inn and knocked on the door. The Inn Keeper was honest with them. I do not believe that he was mean; he just told them the truth, "there is no room in the Inn."
His life was filled to capacity.
As an after thought, He made a place for them in the barn. Joseph, Mary and eventually Jesus was pushed to the back...they received the last available accommodation that the Inn Keeper had left.
We lament and look down our collective noses at the Inn Keeper..."How dare you! Do you not know who you are turning away?"
However, the Inn Keeper did not know who he was turning away...He had no idea...
Yet, we condemn him to an infamous status.
Are we not as guilty as he? In fact, I would propose that we are more guilty.
We know who we are serving. We know what he has done and what He can do. Yet, we push Him to the back of our lives so often.
So many times we have the Inn Keeper Syndrome. Our lives are filled to capacity. Comfort, pleasure, work, play, and the seemingly important soothes our hunger for God. These things fill us and occupy us so much until God becomes an after thought.
We push Him to the barn of our lives. He inhabits the fringes of our consciousness. Simply an after thought.
Let us empty ourselves. Let us wet our appetite for God. He must be our priority.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst...
The Inn Keeper Syndrome...
Rev 3:15-17
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
The Cure...
Ps 34:8
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good:
Matt 5:6
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
