Tag Archives: no room in the inn

December 22, 2025 · 5:53 AM

Enough For God

Radio personality Paul Harvey once told the story of a little girl named Hattie May Wiatt. She lived near a small church in Philadelphia that she attended. One Sunday she tried to go to the children’s church, but she was turned away because it was too full. A few days later she told the pastor, “I’m going to help build a bigger church so more kids can come.” She began saving her money, but died unexpectedly not long after. Her mom found a small purse containing 57 cents with a note that read, “To help build a bigger church.” When the pastor told the congregation, it inspired generosity and people gave so much they built a larger kids area, larger sanctuary and Bible school that later became Temple University and Temple hospital.

We know the story in Luke 2 of how there was a census and each person and family had to go to their ancestral hometown. Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he and Mary went to Bethlehem. When they arrived, everything was full. An unnamed innkeeper told them he was full too and there was no room for the couple. We don’t know what was said, but the innkeeper offered them lodging in the stable, which is where she gave birth to Jesus. It wasn’t much, or pretty or ideal, but it was what he had available for them. God took what he offered and turned it into a place that hosted the birth of our savior. We don’t talk about the innkeeper much, but because he offered what little he had, history remembers what he did.

2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have” (NLT). Many of us wish we had more money, more talents or more time. Then we downplay what little we do, but God doesn’t ask us for what we don’t have. He asks for what we have available to Him. Little Hattie May gave 57 cents that God turned into a movement. The innkeeper gave a stable and God turned it into a sanctuary for His Son. What will you give God? Don’t downplay what little you have. God can take what you give and create big things with it. He’s not asking for what you wish you had, only what you have available. This Christmas, choose to give God something that you do have available. Take that step of faith. It’s enough for God.

Photo by Google Gemini

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December 13, 2017 · 5:54 AM

Nothing Is Impossible

The Christmas story is full of God doing the impossible. Mary became pregnant while she was still a virgin. Even as I type that, my mind thinks of how Impossible that was. Then, the fact that her fiancé stayed with her was a miracle. Can you imagine his predicament? He knew just how impossible it was for her to be pregnant, but he believed the angel just like Mary did. I’m sure he knew the prophesy Of God giving them a sign of a virgin conceiving.

Then, when it was time to give birth, finding a place to stay and have the baby proved impossible. They went from family member to family member, then from hotel to hotel looking for a place to stay. I’m sure they prayed for God to do the impossible and find them a place to stay. God answered their prayers in an odd way. His answer put them in a barn for the hotel rather than in the hotel itself. Nevertheless, God did the impossible.

God then placed a star in the sky where Jesus was born. Some kings from the east saw it, and left their kingdoms to come celebrate the birth of another king. There was no radio, no TV, no internet or anything else to tell them about this king. They simply followed a star. How many of us would drop everything we are doing to follow a star? Yet these men did, and 5hey were so sure that a king had been born that they brought gifts for Him.

Yes, the Christmas story is full of God doing the impossible. It’s His way of reminding you and i that there is nothing we face that He can’t resolve. The angel in Luke 1:37 said it best, “For there is nothing that God cannot do” (GNT). God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If He did the impossible back then, He’s still doing it today and will keep doing it tomorrow. I believe God delights in doing the impossible just to show us He hears us and loves us. Don’t be afraid to ask God to do the impossible. He’s pretty good at making it happen.

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December 7, 2017 · 5:00 AM

Entertaining Unaware

Throwback Thursday is a new feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other writing ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

I don’t think the innkeeper ever gets enough credit at Christmas. Sure, we mention him in passing when reading Luke 2 for our plays, but no one ever really thinks about him. To me, he played a critical role in the birth of our Savior. He provided the setting for every nativity you’ve ever seen. Yet have you ever looked at a nativity and thought of him? I know the scene isn’t about him, but it wouldn’t look like that if it weren’t for him.

We know that Ceasar Augustus had called for a census. It’s not like the censuses we take today where government workers come to your house and ask you questions. Each family had to travel to the hometown of their ancestors. For Joseph, a descendent of David, that was Bethlehem where David grew up. It was an 80 mile trip that he and Mary had to walk or ride by donkey. Mary was obviously in her third trimester, and I’m sure they had to stop pretty often.

By the time the two of them arrived, the town was full. I’m sure they went to his family to try to stay with them. After having no luck with any of his family, they started going to the inns in the city, but quickly found out it was no better. Joseph must have been getting desperate. Mary could have been having contractions and he needed some place for his son to be born. As the sun set, he knew they were out of options. It could be that this particular innkeeper had compassion on them and offered shelter in the stable.

We really don’t know the details, but what we do know is that they ended up in his stable. This particular innkeeper thought differently than all the others in town. With no room in the inn, he offered them the only other place he had. He wasn’t going to turn a weary, pregnant woman away. I’m sure he had no idea that she was carrying his Messiah. I’m sure he didn’t know that his stable would become a hallowed sanctuary that millions would flock to in the future. We simply know that he offered what he had and it was more than enough to be the setting for the birth of the King of Kings.

It makes me wonder how many times I’ve not had time or room for people in my life. How many times have I been like the other innkeepers in Bethlehem? What if some of them were sent to me by God? I believe that God gives us daily opportunities to open up and let others into the inn of our lives, but too often we are too busy and are so full that we turn them away. I believe if we found even just a small space for them, we could change their world. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood – being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without even knowing it (AMP).” The innkeeper entertained the Son of God unaware because he was open to helping others.

Photo by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash

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December 23, 2014 · 7:07 AM

Entertaining Unaware

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I don’t think the innkeeper ever gets enough credit at Christmas. Sure, we mention him in passing when reading Luke 2 for our plays, but no one ever really thinks about him. To me, he played a critical role in the birth of our Savior. He provided the setting for every nativity you’ve ever seen. Yet have you ever looked at a nativity and thought of him? I know the scene isn’t about him, but it wouldn’t look like that if it weren’t for him.

We know that Ceasar Augustus had called for a census. It’s not like the censuses we take today where government workers come to your house and ask you questions. Each family had to travel to the hometown of their ancestors. For Joseph, that was Bethlehem. It was an 80 mile trip that he and Mary had to walk or ride by donkey. Mary was obviously in her third trimester and I’m sure had to stop pretty often.

By the time the two of them arrived, the town was full. I’m sure they went to his family to try to stay with them. After having no luck with any of his family, they started going to the inns in the city, but quickly found out it was no better. Joseph must have been getting desperate. Mary could have been having contractions and he needed some place for his son to be born. As the sun set, he knew they were out of options. Maybe this particular innkeeper had compassion on them and offered shelter in the stable.

We really don’t know the details, but what we do know is that they ended up in his stable. This particular innkeeper thought differently than the others. With no room in the inn, he offered them the only other place he had. He wasn’t going to turn a weary pregnant woman away. I’m sure he had no idea that she was carrying his Messiah. I’m sure he didn’t know that his stable would become a sanctuary. We simply know that he offered what he had and it was more than enough to be the setting for the birth of the King of Kings.

It makes me wonder how many times I’ve not had time or room for people in my life. How many times have I been like the other innkeepers in Bethlehem? What if some of them were sent to me by God? I believe that God gives us daily opportunities to open up and let others into the inn of our lives, but too often we are busy and are full so we turn them away. I believe if we found even just a small space for them, we could change their world. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood – being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without even knowing it (AMP).” The innkeeper entertained the Son of God unaware evacuee he was open to helping others.

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