It was the week before Christmas, and our young family was asked to take in a foster child, a two-week-old infant. He came with a bare minimum — a grubby bunting bag with a small bottle of milk dampening the corner into which it had been carelessly shoved. The baby’s face looked blank, as if he were unable to process this unfriendly world into which he had been born.

His teen-aged mother had apparently given up on looking after the demands of a newborn, and had surrendered him to foster care.

We had the baby for three days, making room into our lives by the practise of hospitality–defined by the dictionary as “receiving guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, and generous way.” It was challenging for me to get up in the middle of the night and feed the baby a bottle every two hours, much different than nursing my summer babies. We did what was needed, though, our boys lavishing attention on our guest by holding him up to “see” the coloured tree lights. At the end of our time with baby Keith, his whole demeanor had changed. He was alert and no longer had that blank look. He was ready to go to his forever family several kilometres away.

It was a similar story for Joseph and Mary, who arrived wearily in crowded Bethlehem so long ago to take part in a census for taxation purposes. Mary was almost ready to give birth. Hospitality was a social requirement of the culture of the day, and Bethlehem was the home town of their ancestors. Perhaps a relative took the couple in and offered them their main room, as the attached guest room was already occupied.

Jesus’ birthing room was probably the main room of a simple peasant house, and He was laid in the manger accessible to the animals, which stayed overnight on a slightly lower level. From this humble place of His birth, our Saviour grew up as any young Jewish boy would, and eventually fulfilled His mission on earth – to die on a cross and save us from our sins.
Jesus was really talking about hospitality when He said, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2 NLT) Our Saviour is preparing a place, better than the finest guest room, for those who believe in Him and accept His offer of hospitality. Is your heart ready and waiting to invite the King of Kings to take up residence in it? He is ready and waiting for you. Jesus further said, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:3 NLT) “Always be eager to practise hospitality.”(Romans 12:13b, NLT) The rewards are eternal.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You are preparing a guest room for us. Our hearts are ready to invite You in. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada