Sermon: No Room In The Inn

Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7) tells of a governmental decree obeyed by Joseph to travel from where he lived in Nazareth to return to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. We also learn that Joseph is of a royal line with heritage that leads directly to King David, a man after God’s own heart.  Traveling with Joseph is Mary who is described as his obviously pregnant fiancée.  

You would think that a man of royal heritage, accompanied by an obviously pregnant fiancée would have no problem finding a room at the Village Inn. But they did.  

For more than a century, the United States has been the world's economic powerhouse.

From its world-leading GDP to its powerful stock exchange, even in the doldrums of COVID 19 and the inflation that it has brought. The US is the market the rest of the globe looks for wealth and stability.

You would think with the wealth of our nation everyone in it would have a place in our village inn, everyone would have a home.

In 2020 the Census Bureau reported over half a million people were experiencing homelessness in America.  

Experiencing homelessness is defined as an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for habitation like under a bridge, in a doorway, or a car. 

Yet as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in the richest country in the world. There are many who have no place in our village inn.

Perhaps one of the reasons God allowed his son, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords the  Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace not to have a place in the village inn. It is so, for at least one moment we can be reminded they are among us despite their royal bloodlines that have no place at the village inn.  They have no place to sleep, they have no home. 

What we do about this dilemma collectively and individually is truly up to us. 

Mark P. Fisher is the Executive Director of the Same Kind Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to those experiencing homeliness.  

In a blog entitled 7 Ways You Can Bless Someone Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic. Mark shares some practical ways we can help.  Here are three of them:

Make Eye Contact/Smile 

When we encounter someone experiencing homeliness, make eye contact smile. For you see many people experiencing homeliness feel invisible. Mark says it might feel a bit weird or scary at first, but never in his countless experiences has someone attacked or gotten angry with him for smiling 

Blessings Bags 

Second, give something tangible by creating blessings bags. These are clear gallon zip lock bags that you can carry in your car.   You can show your kindness by including things like hand warmers, gift cards, bags of quarters which are handy for using in a laundromat a small pack of baby wipes would be great to help a person feel clean and fresh between trips to the shower.

Volunteer 

Finally, you can make a difference by volunteering at a homeless shelter. There are many jobs there from serving meals to cleaning bathrooms to providing tutoring. 

I hope you will take these recommendations of blessings making them part of your life beyond the holidays. For while the inn may be full our ability bless is always open. 

Benediction

Now for our Benediction, a shower of special blessings for Christmas day and beyond. Father, we come asking for your blessing for those among us who are experiencing

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com