No Room at the Inn

I was walking the halls of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville and noticed all the important people’s pictures that line the halls of each floor, along with a quote and the year of their stay at the GPI. That reminded me of a devotion I wrote earlier this year for “Room at the Inn” at the YMCA. It was a two-part devotion: one for the those serving and one for those being served. Below is the devotion for those being served by “Room at the Inn”. . . (See earlier post for the first part.)

Room at the Inn... the name, itself, is a reminder that you have something in common with Jesus. In fact, in this season of your life right now, you may have more in common with Jesus than those serving you! As a baby, he had no room in which to sleep. As an adult, he said, “... the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20).

Jesus had a birthplace. It was Bethlehem. 

He had a hometown. He grew up in Nazareth.

Yet, as an adult, he said that he had no place to lay his head.

In one sense, that is true because he traveled around teaching. In another sense, perhaps the deeper meaning behind Jesus’ words in Matthew 8 is that his head and heart didn’t reside at an address in this world. He knew he was just a stranger here—only passing through. 

He taught Peter this idea, which is why Peter later wrote that we are all “strangers in the world.” In fact, he said it three times in his first letter! (1 Peter 1:1, 1:17, 2:11).

Paul had learned this idea when he wrote “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” (Phil. 3:20). Paul also called us “Ambassadors,” (2Cor. 5:20) like those living in a foreign country who represent the rulers and  interests their true home.

Now, here’s where “Room at the Inn” gets interesting for you. Just like Jesus, you have MUCH to teach those serving you. In fact, time and time again, the people that serve here later remark how much they learn from people just like you.

You are being served, but don’t forget that YOU are a TEACHER! Let people learn from you while you are here.

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” Romans 12:7