MAKING ROOM

BY JOHN KOEDYKER

Not long ago my wife and I went on a summer vacation with our family. We were planning to be gone for a week, so I needed quite a number of changes of clothes. But I overdid it a little. I had so many clothes in my suitcase that there wasn’t enough room for some very necessary items, so I had to unpack and start over.
Often our lives are like that. We cram them so full of work and other activities that we don’t have room for the truly important things of life.
Here in these verses Paul touches on one of the most important things of life—having room in your heart for others. If we were honest, we would have to admit that we are all a bit self-centered. It’s hard not to have a “me first” attitude.
But one of the most important tenets of the Christian faith is the love of others. Do you have room in your heart for other people? Maybe even those who are poor or different from you. Maybe especially those who are different.
An old gospel song tells us “there is room at the cross for you.” If Jesus has room for you, shouldn’t you have room in your heart for others?  

2 CORINTHIANS 7:2-4

2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for making room for me. Help me to make room for others in my busy life. Amen.