Updated: December 2025
Although many Christians today say that Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, He is still out of place in many people’s lives—not only throughout the year, but even during Christmas itself. It is heartbreaking that a celebration meant to center on Christ often becomes filled with everything except Him.
Jesus is knocking at the door of our lives, yet there is no room for Him because we are too preoccupied with the cares of this world. Our thoughts are crowded with anxieties, celebrations, wishes for material things, food, and endless activities.
Yet God’s desire has always been clear: He wants to dwell in us.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
Luke 2:1–7 (ESV)
“ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
Background of the Passage
At the time of Jesus’ birth, Caesar Augustus issued a decree requiring everyone to return to their hometown for registration. Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth of Galilee, about 132 kilometers away from Bethlehem in Judea, Joseph’s ancestral home.
Despite Mary being near the time of delivery, they had no choice but to travel in obedience to the decree. Humanly speaking, there was no sensible reason for such a journey at that moment—except that God was fulfilling what He had spoken centuries earlier.
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2 ESV)
As many people returned to Bethlehem, accommodations quickly filled. Considering Mary’s condition, it is reasonable to assume they traveled slowly and arrived later than most. By then, the houses and guest rooms were already crowded.
Why Was Jesus Born in a Manger?
Scripture gives very little detail about the exact circumstances of Jesus’ birth—perhaps so our attention would remain fixed on who was born, rather than the setting itself.
Why was the Savior laid in a manger rather than a warm bed? Were there no relatives to receive Joseph and Mary in his hometown? Did no one extend help to a woman about to give birth?
Over time, various versions of the Christmas story have emerged.
Common Explanations
One version suggests that an innkeeper turned them away because every room was occupied, and no one was willing to give up their space for an ordinary-looking couple. With no other option, Mary delivered the baby in a stable, laying Him in a manger.
Another explanation is that Joseph’s relatives did host them, but the guest room was overcrowded. With no privacy or space for childbirth, they used the area where animals were kept.
Regardless of the details, Scripture is clear on two things:
There was no place for Him.
He was laid in a manger.
The house was full. There was no special treatment for the Son of God.
What a humbling picture: Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the King of kings and Lord of lords, entered humanity in obscurity and poverty. Yet all of this unfolded in perfect alignment with God’s will.
God Wants to Dwell in Us
“For we are the temple of the living God… I will make my dwelling among them.”
(2 Corinthians 6:16–18 ESV)
If God desires to dwell in us, then the question becomes:
What kind of heart does the Lord want to live in?
1️⃣ A Humble Heart
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
(James 4:6 ESV)
There is nothing better than having the grace of God dwell in a humble heart so that His promised salvation can be received. Because of God’s grace, the blessings we receive will not only be spiritual but also include material prosperity in this life.
Our prideful aspirations often bring us more trouble than joy. We can never be truly self-sufficient; it is only by grace—this undeserved favor from God—that all circumstances in our lives fall into place.
Jesus Himself had a humble beginning, as we see in the story of His birth. This was not because He deserved it, but because He wanted to experience the struggles and pain that many of us go through. Though He is King, He submitted Himself to the Father’s will with all humility.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
(2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)
Being the son of a carpenter, Jesus’ earthly family may not have been materially wealthy. However, out of His immense love for us, He chose to give up His divine riches. He set aside His glory and was born in the flesh as an ordinary man so that through His poverty, we might become rich.
Paul is not only referring to our spiritual richness; he is also talking about our prosperity in all aspects of life here on earth. We don’t need to wait until we reach heaven to experience a glorious life.
The incarnation was Jesus’ humble way of fulfilling His mission on earth. To be like Christ, we must have a humble heart for Him to dwell in.
2️⃣ An Empty Heart
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
(Psalm 51:10 ESV)
We must become empty so that we can be filled! We need to make room for Him in our hearts so that He can fit in. Our hearts are often overcrowded and polluted by many distractions in life. God and sin cannot coexist in our hearts. Therefore, we need to empty our hearts of the heavy burdens of sin and invite Jesus to dwell within them.
This means letting go of our uncleanliness, filthiness, anxieties, worries, pride, and everything that displeases God. If God can only dwell in a clean heart, then let it always be our prayer and desire to have a pure heart created within us—a clean heart, with pure thoughts and good deeds.
No one can achieve this apart from the washing away of our sins through the precious blood of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit within us!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8 ESV)
Only those with a pure heart will see and enter the kingdom of God. Having a pure heart means having pure thoughts and intentions. Yes, we all sin, but we should not dwell in sin. We can acknowledge it, but we must choose not to stay in it.
3️⃣ An Available Heart
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”
(Isaiah 1:18–19 ESV)
God does not force Himself upon us. He invites us. An available heart responds to His call without excuses or delay.
Willingness + Obedience = Availability
God can never use us unless we make our hearts available. All we need is to have an available heart and come to Him. However, we can never escape from God’s call.
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28 NLT)
Similarly, God invites us to come to Him. Therefore, let us not make excuses and put it off for another time. Let us have an open heart so that Jesus can dwell within us!
4️⃣ A Repentant Heart
“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
(Luke 5:32 NLT)
Jesus did not come to save the righteous, for no one is truly righteous. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We can only become righteous through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). He came to save sinners, which includes everyone who comes to Him in repentance.
We cannot be friends with God unless we repent. To repent, we must first acknowledge our sins, confess them, and turn away from them.
God offers forgiveness to those who approach Him with a repentant heart. We need to confess our sins sincerely so that we can find mercy and allow Him to dwell within us.
We should not hide our sins from God (Proverbs 28:13) because He is an omniscient, all-knowing God. He loves us and disciplines those whom He loves (Revelation 3:19 NIV).
5️⃣ A Trusting Heart
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
(Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT)
Jesus is waiting for us to open our hearts and trust in Him so that He can guide us in the right direction. He desires a trusting heart to dwell within. Seeking His will involves submitting our lives with a heartfelt trust. When we seek His will, we aim to become more like Him and allow Him to bring order to our lives.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
(2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)
Trusting means obeying without doubt, even when you don’t understand the reason for it. Faith is believing in something we cannot see. A trusting heart is the best place for Jesus to dwell, not just this Christmas, but throughout all the days of our lives.
Summary: The Place for Christmas
The true place for Christmas is not a building, a celebration, or a season.
It is the H – E – A – R – T:
H – Humble heart
E – Empty heart
A – Available heart
R – Repentant heart
T – Trusting heart
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
(Revelation 3:20 ESV)
May we not repeat the tragedy of Bethlehem—having no room for Him.
Let us open our hearts and make room for Christ.
Here’s a beautiful Christmas worship song by Paul Baloche called The Newborn King. Enjoy singing along!
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Recommended Christmas Devotionals
If you’re looking to go deeper this season, these Christ-centered devotionals are perfect companions:
• Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp – Daily Advent reflections to prepare your heart for Jesus.
• Jesus Calling for Christmas by Sarah Young – Scripture-rich devotions focusing on Christ’s presence and peace.