BE THE SPACE FOR CHRIST

“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
— Luke 2:7

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Warm greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

As we approach the blessed season of Advent and Christmas, my heart is drawn to those familiar words from Luke 2:1–7, the narrative of our Lord’s birth. Yet this year, one phrase arrests my attention with particular urgency: “there was no guest room available for them.”

The Son of God, the Creator of the universe, came to His own creation, and there was no room. The innkeeper in Bethlehem wasn't cruel or deliberately rejecting them—he was simply full. His rooms were occupied. His space was taken. And so, the King of Kings was born in a stable, laid in a feeding trough meant for animals.

Two thousand years later, I wonder: Have we made room for Jesus in our lives?
Or are we, like that inn, so full of other things—our ambitions, our schedules, our worries, our entertainment—that we have no space left for the One who gave everything for us?

Making Space in Our Hearts

Christmas isn’t merely about celebrating an event that happened long ago. It is about making room for Christ today—in our hearts, in our homes, and in our daily routines. The stable in Bethlehem became sacred not because of its structure, but because it held the Savior. Similarly, our ordinary lives become extraordinary when we create space for Jesus to dwell in them.

What does it mean to “be the space for Christ”?
It means intentionally creating room for His presence when everything around us clamors for our attention. It means choosing to prioritize our relationship with Him above the countless demands that fill our days.

The Foundation: Family Prayer

One of the most powerful ways we can be the space for Christ is through the practice of family prayer, both morning and evening. In our homes, where we begin and end each day, we have the opportunity to invite Christ to be the center of family life.

Morning prayer sets the tone for the day. Before we rush into our responsibilities, we gather as a family to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over our day. We commit our plans to Him, pray for each other, and remember that we are His beloved children. Even if it’s just five or ten minutes, this practice transforms how we face the day’s challenges.

Evening prayer brings us back together to reflect on God’s faithfulness. We thank Him for His protection, confess where we’ve fallen short, intercede for one another’s needs, and surrender our worries into His capable hands before we sleep. When families pray together, we create a spiritual atmosphere in our homes and build a legacy of faith that will echo through generations.

Nurturing Personal Devotion

I know that many of you already have the habit of personal devotion and are regular in family prayer. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your faithfulness in these spiritual disciplines. Your commitment to seeking God daily is a testimony of your faith and a blessing to our church family.

I encourage each member of our church family to use a structured devotional guide for your personal quiet time. Resources like Our Daily Bread or Vedha Padana Sahai (Biblical Study Companion) provide daily Scripture readings, reflections, and prayers that can guide your time with the Lord. Personal devotion is where we encounter God intimately, where He speaks to us individually, and where our faith becomes truly our own. Set aside time each day to read His Word, reflect on His truth, and pray from the depths of your heart.

An Invitation This Christmas

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us examine our lives honestly. What is filling our “inn”? What occupies the space in our hearts that rightfully belongs to Jesus? This Advent season, I challenge you to do some spiritual housekeeping. Clear out what doesn’t belong. Simplify your schedule. Turn off the noise. Create space in your life. And then intentionally invite Jesus to fill that space.

Begin or renew the practice of morning and evening family prayer. Commit to daily personal devotion using a guide that will keep you grounded in Scripture. And watch how God transforms your home, your relationships, and your heart when you make Him the priority.

The stable had room when the inn did not. The humble-made space when the important were too full. Let us be like that stable—perhaps ordinary, perhaps simple, but willing to receive the extraordinary gift of God’s presence.

May this Christmas find us not merely celebrating the Nativity, but truly becoming the space where Christ dwells. May our homes echo with prayers of faith, our hearts overflow with His peace, and our lives reflect the light of the One who was born to save us.

I pray that the joy and peace of Christmas will fill your hearts and homes abundantly.

In Christ’s Love,
Rev. Shaimon Elias
Vicar, Madras Mar Thoma Syrian Church

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” — John 1:14