A Bethlehem for Jesus

“Just as Our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God?” by ~ Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest

The date was set. Baby Emma was to be born December 23, 2009 in Redmond Oregon via a cesarean section. Arriving as planned the healthy and vibrant Emma screamed from her mommy’s room her entry call into the world. For the rest of her life she will have to answer the question, “Where were you born?” “Redmond Oregon would be the only answer to this repeated inquiry.

As Christians we have the privilege of being a “Redmond Oregon” or Bethlehem for Jesus as we make room in our hearts where His Spirit can give birth. When Christ is asked the question “where were you born?” We should want the answer to be, “in Karen, in Sue, in Jeff, in Mike.” Praise the Lord the answer to this repeated inquiry could be many different answers, the choice is up to us.

Emma’s mom made sure she got a booking in the hospital close to where she lived for the arrival of her child. However, Christ had to travel a long ways to get where He was needed. He left the thrones of Heaven to come down not to station Himself on the outskirts of Bethlehem but to enter in.

As long as we keep our lives cluttered with the things we want to hold on to Christ will always be found on the outskirts of town instead of within where He belongs. The choice becomes ours whether we are going to allow our personal human life to be that birthing place or not. Once we’ve booked the event to happen we find it’s the beginning not the end of a way of life, a place of growth and spiritual maturity.

Unlike little Emma whose mom and dad could only hope she was born healthy we get that choice ourselves to determine the health of our new spiritual birth. A good birth starts with all the correct preparations such as setting aside what Paul referred to as the “old” to put on the “new.” Taking the time to clean out what doesn’t need to be in order to reserve our whole heart for Jesus.

For the birth of my third grandchild even before we arrived at the hospital someone was there ahead of us. The grandmother on her father’s side had come and left pictures of daddy all around to ensure his presence there since he couldn’t be there physically.

We need to stop and take a look at what our birthing room looks like? Is it all us or does it reflect the one that was or needs to be born there, Jesus Christ. Is it only pictures, and symbols, empty crosses, and dusty Bibles? Do we have Him waiting on the outskirts or have we opened the doors for Him to come in.

It’s important that we need to remember that it is not God who is homeless. It’s us who have a home in our heart that is empty. Book Him today, make room for this outside source that was designed to live within. Be a Bethlehem for Jesus.

Our host today is Miriam over at her blog, Miriam Pauline’s Monologue. Hop on over there and see what everyone has to say about today’s wonder quote.