Can you make some room for Me?

When someone is coming to visit your house, what do you do to prepare for their visit? I’ve had lots of examples of great hosts of people I've visited. My aunt lays out all of her towels, and labels each set- body towel, hand towel, and wash cloth- with everyone’s name in preparation for the whole family to visit. Do you know how much that is to wash afterwards? LOL! Yet she does it because it is welcoming and helpful for everyone to have their own towel. My mom asks me to send her a list of foods for me, the kids, and anything else we might like. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t like it or usually doesn’t have it in her house, or even if there is some we don’t end up eating. She goes to the store before we arrive so that there is plenty to eat after our 12 hour drive and the duration of our stay. My uncle will buy every kind of soda that his guests like, just so that they have something they like to drink. None of these things are necessary, but when you are on the receiving end as the guest, it makes you feel so welcomed and wanted. You KNOW that they are glad to have you there without them even saying a word. They have gone out of their way to make room for you.

Do we make room for Jesus like that? 

The religious leaders at the time of Jesus’ life argued that they were God’s children because they were descendants of Abraham. Yet Jesus was there, telling them, in the flesh, that He was the Son and the way to God was through Him. They refused to listen, and because of His teachings, felt He was going against God and plotted to have Him arrested and killed. They refused to listen to what Jesus was saying. Was it new? Was it different? Yes. Having a “suffering servant” be your Savior was different than the world view- they thought the Savior should be a grand king. But God always, always, always, works in ways we do not expect. 

Isaiah, the prophet, had already taught this exact idea. 

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53: 2-3

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

So the religious leaders were having a hard time understanding that this was happening, and despite all the miracles Jesus had demonstrated, and all the teachings through prophets (like Isaiah) in their scripture, they still refused to believe. They were not making room in their hearts. They believed it was enough that they were descendants of Abraham. 

I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.  John 8:37

How often do we do this? We say we believe, maybe even feel full of the Spirit on Sunday, lay our worries at His feet, and then walk off, continuing to do our own thing and try to fix our worries and problems ourselves. 

Or you say you believe in God. But that’s it. You just say it. There’s nothing more to your belief. 

We are here to to glorify God by obeying Him. Our well- being- that is - getting through the hard times, is for His glory. Even Jesus didn’t glorify Himself, though He knew who He came from. 

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. John 8:54

Jesus knew His obedience would bring glory to God- by saving the world! 

God builds our faith as we continue to meet with Him, when we make room in our lives. Put down the TV remote for 15 minutes and pray. Stop doom scrolling and open the bible. We are so busy in our day to day lives- but we can find a little time when we reprioritize. I like to start my day, early before anyone else is up, with quiet time and coffee. It’s okay to not know where to start, it’s okay if you don’t understand everything you read. Start by opening your heart to Him. He will help you, in the most loving, gentle way, begin to see Him and understand. You will feel His Spirit move in your life. It is not a physical feeling, but you will see things begin to change that you can’t explain any other way than God. My small group leader always says, “Look at God!” when something happens in our lives that we could not have done ourselves. We laugh when we say it now, because we have to say it so often! 

Make room for God. Let Him show up in your life. Let God be glorified through you. Can it hurt to try?

Put it into Practice:

How can you make room for God? What are some changes you can make that will open your heart more fully to the one who cares for you? How can you obey what He is calling you to do?

• Meet with God daily in quiet time. Some prayer, read the bible, read a devotional. You will learn His character. By knowing His character, you will begin to understand what He is telling you. By knowing the bible, you will know His truth versus false teaching.

• Ask God to help. 

• Get ready for an amazing ride! It is so cool to see how God works in our life when we pay attention. 

Dear God, I come before you to help me make room for you in my life and in my heart. Show me what it means to make room, to obey what you want me to do, so that through everything I encounter, I may glorify you. 

I always like to read beyond the one verse, to help me understand the context, see what was really happening, and to make sure I'm not ‘cherry picking’ verses for my own benefit. This is the full context of the religious leaders and Jesus’ discussion. John 8:31-47

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011

Access your bible from anywhere. BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/

I am not a Bible scholar or preacher, I am just a girl who loves Jesus. This is my interpretation of things I have learned. I hope it can encourage you and lead you to the bible to see the truth for yourself. :-)