No Room

No room in the inn for baby Jesus

Not a single room or a spot

Occasioned by an order of a census call

This number of people was really a lot.

Weary after the long journey from home

Mary and Joseph needed a place to rest

But the crowd that thronged the streets that night

Made that an almost impossible test.

Moving from inn to inn they enquired within

Hoping for the remotest chance

Perhaps someone would note her pregnancy

And change this “no room” stance.

For so far all they heard as they had called

Was “no room”; “no room” was all they heard,

It appeared not a single room was available

Or what was left had been reserved.

An eye at last had caught the bulge

And in compassion that ‘inn-keeper’ pronounced

A “no room” with a welcome difference, “But

There is a stable,” the ‘inn-keeper’ announced.

“But as you would imagine,” he went on to say,

“That would not be a fitting place

Given that you are carrying an unborn child

A stable would be a definite disgrace.”

“We have come a long way,” Joseph must have said,

“And the time of my wife draws near

Do allow us Sir to use your stable

For we have heard “no room” everywhere.”

Not much could have been done with a stable

The animals would not have been removed,

But at least room was found for baby Jesus

Though it was a stable that was approved.

From heaven’s spendour with room to spare

God’s incarnate Son had come

To the earth he created at the beginning of time

To hear “no room”, “no room” we have none.

All that could be given to the Prince of Peace

Was a stable with a manger for a bed

Depriving the animals of a feeding trough

So that baby Jesus could lay his head.

Far from the palace one would expect for a king

The King of all kings was born

Witnessed by Mary, Joseph and the animals

On that very first Christmas morn.

“No room” was the response at every door

As the Saviour attempted to enter there

Only a stable, a manger and a little stall

In the inns there was “no room” to spare.

If they could see then what we know now

“No room” would not have been an option

For knowing God’s Son was seeking a room

Every inn would offer accommodation.

“No room” under the circumstances then

Could be considered a reasonable excuse

But given today and all that we know now

“No room” is no excuse if the Saviour we refuse.

“No room” for Jesus is “no room” in heaven

For the one who rejects God’s plea

No room in this life means ample space in hell

Read God’s word and you would see.

“No room,” “no room” said the in-keepers then

But they were only the keepers of an inn,

“No room”, “no room” expressed to Jesus now

And the keeper of that heart retains his sin.

“No room” for the devil means all room for Christ

No room for the ideologies of this world,

“No room” for the devil acknowledges the sacrifice

That Christ made; it’s recorded in the Word.

“No room” in my heart for that old devil

Not a single room or a spot

Occasioned by a call from my loving Saviour

Whose I am and the devil’s I am not.

Stewart Russell © 2016