No Light Left On

 Does the name Tom Bodett mean anything to you? Tom is the first and only spokesperson Motel 6 has ever had. Tom always closes the Motel ad by saying “And we’ll leave the light on for you.” My wife, our first born son that was 4 month old and I had taken off on an unplanned trip to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. When we arrived we found to our surprise that there were no Motel rooms available I mean there was no light left on for us. We were in some kind of trouble; the heat was beating down and we were sweating while warning bottles by the car heater; let me tell you that was no fun at all. By the time that Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they found that there was no Tom Bodett and the light was off at the inn “there was no room for them in the inn.” So Mary and Joseph had to make do


Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; (A trough or box in which fodder is laid for cattle, or the place in which horses and cattle are fed.) Do you know what is amazing about the fix they found themselves in? There was not one word of complaining; Joseph is not saying how could I have been so foolish not to have had a room or a place; for this is my home town. Is that what we are told?

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luke 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Joseph was born in Bethlehem and this was the city where he belonged. There was no family that took them in, no friends not even an old childhood buddy. There is not one word of complaining no feeling sorry for themselves; none. Have you ever thought why? The answer is simple because the night is not about the hardship of Joseph and Mary but all about the Lord Jesus Christ. The taxing and the travelling was not what this night was about. It’s not about poor old Mary it is all about Jesus. Could we say the same? It’s not about you and I, it’s not about our hardships and it’s not even about the good things that have happened to each of us. It is about Jesus. When we build our life around all the bad the sad and the sorrowful as well as the good we are missing the most important part and that is Jesus? For it’s all about Him!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

Have a great week as you lift up the name of Jesus and not your problems!