And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7
I remember growing up and always hearing the Christmas story, wondering why the innkeeper couldn’t find a place for Mary and Joseph to stay. Here was this pregnant woman about to give birth to her first son and he couldn’t find anything better than a barn for her to stay in?! What kind of person would do that?
The reality is, the Christmas story never tells us that the innkeeper put them in a barn. In all likelihood, it was more of a cave than a barn, which would provide more privacy for Mary and Joseph than the inn would have anyway. And, the scripture never even tells us that there was an innkeeper. We are told there was no room in the inn, so we assume there must have been an innkeeper, but aren’t ever told that detail. Now when I read the story, I have to believe that the innkeeper (if there even was one) was actually a person of compassion and mercy to provide them with the best accommodations possible.
Sometimes we can have a tendency to look at our lives and wonder what kind of difference we have really made. Will anyone remember us? If so, what will they say about us? One night, 2,000 years ago, an innkeeper saw two traveling strangers in need and he offered to help in the best way he knew how. Today, 2,000 years later, we don’t know the name of this innkeeper or anything about him, but we know the compassionate act he performed.
Will people remember your name 2,000 years from now? Maybe. Or maybe not. But, I can promise if you do something generous and compassionate for a stranger today, your life will hold meaning for that person. The mercy you show will have a ripple effect that will last for years to come.
Rev. Josh Attaway, Edmond Campus Pastor
