Inside-Out Hospitality

I enjoy Christmas-themed dramas in church, especially when they’re performed by children. This past Sunday, we watched one about the night of Jesus’ birth, based on Luke 2:7, and the interpretation really stayed with me.

They showed Joseph and a very pregnant Mary moving from one inn to the next, asking for space. Everyone said there was no room. Some were polite. Others were very rude.

The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly why there was no lodging available. But it made me wonder: if you were there in those days, would you have made room for Jesus?

She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
— Luke 2:7 (NLT)

I can think of several possible reasons why there was no space. Let’s explore a few of them—and maybe how we can overcome these same challenges today.

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1. There Was Truly No Space

There was a census going on, and many people had travelled, so it’s possible that everywhere was genuinely full. While that sounds like a valid reason, it still feels strange to see someone in such a state and deny them help.

Growing up, my dad hosted more people than our house could comfortably hold. We often had to give up our rooms so guests could be comfortable, and we slept in the living room. At the time, it felt unfair. After all, we were his children.

Little did I know that it would be a powerful lesson in hospitality.

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2. Fear Got in the Way

Honestly, I might have been scared, too. People who know me say I have a very wild imagination, and I would probably have thought they were armed robbers disguising themselves as a distressed couple. And let’s be honest—things like that do happen.

But the Holy Spirit gives us discernment:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
— Isaiah 30:21

Another fear could have been much simpler: What if she gives birth in my house? Where do I even begin?

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3. They Didn’t Feel They Had Enough to Share

Hosting Mary and Joseph might have meant sharing their last meal. It wasn’t planned. It didn’t fit into their limited resources.

Yet God reminds us that He is the Source and the Rewarder:

Give, and it will be given to you…
— Luke 6:38

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4. They Were Ashamed of the State of Their Home

Maybe the house was scattered. Perhaps it wasn’t “presentable.” Maybe they didn’t want anyone to see it that way.

But Christ-like hospitality does not have to be perfect—it just needs to be available.

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5. They Were Too Busy or Preoccupied

They might have been dealing with their own issues—loss, stress, exhaustion. Helping someone else can feel impossible when you’re already weighed down.

Yet Jesus invites us:

Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
— Matthew 11:28–29

Even when we’re low, we are not without help.

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6. They Looked Down on Them

Let’s be honest—things might have been different if Mary and Joseph were rich or influential. The kind of people we assume would “return the favour.”

But:

For God shows no partiality.
— Romans 2:11

Neither should we.

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Making Room for Jesus Today

You don’t have to wait for Jesus Himself to show up at your door to make room for Him. This plays out in our everyday lives.

For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me… I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home…
— Matthew 25:42–45

Jesus also knocks on the door of our hearts daily.

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
— Revelation 3:20

I pray our hearts are not too full for Him—not too scared, too ashamed, or too busy to open the door.

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Inside-Out Hospitality Takeaway

Making room for Jesus isn’t about having extra space, extra time, or extra resources. It’s about having a willing heart.

Christ-like hospitality flows from the inside out. When we open our hearts to Jesus, we become more aware—and more willing—to open our lives to others.

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Inside-Out Question

What might be crowding your heart right now—fear, busyness, shame, or lack?

Where can you make a little more room for Jesus today?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Merry Christmas!

Here’s to hosting from the inside out.