Put on your steel toed boots, I may be stepping on your toes

I apologize in advance of this post.  Chances are I am going to say something that hits a little too close to home.  Many of you may even be sitting there going, but Kevin, you don't walk the talk here either.  Truth is, you would be right; but the last week or so, every time I've sat down to type this daily blog, this post kept coming to mind.  This topic keeps coming to mind.  I know it is a message I need to hear and I know it is a message that we all need to hear.  So let me proceed to stepping on some toes!

Excuses come easy for most of us.  It's easy to justify being the innkeeper that turns away our neighbor.

"Our house really is too small to welcome others in."
"I have family coming in town."
"That guy would just spend my money on alcohol anyway."
"I can't be late for school." "I can't be late for work." 
"If I was late for work, I'd lose my job and then wouldn't be able to help anyone." 

I could go on and on.  We have lots of excuses.  Many of them are actually valid.  Many of them make total sense.  However, our "inn keeper hearts" often have a deeper root.  Our reason for not helping someone often is a symptom of a much bigger issue.

The bigger issue is often us saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."
Now you may be thinking that you never really actually say that.  Those words may have never crossed your lips.  Those words likely have never even come to your mind.

But our actions speak differently. 

When we wake up on Sunday morning and decide we need sleep more than we need to go to worship...We are saying "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that skipping out on small group to do homework...We are saying "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When are stuck in traffic, haven't moved in 30 minutes and we are cussing every car that cuts in front of us or does something dumb...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that sleep is more important than our daily time with God...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that watching TV is more important that our daily time with God...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that going to tailgate at the Panthers game is more important that going to church...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that playing soccer, baseball, hockey, etc. is more important than coming to church...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that the traffic is too much of an inconvenience for us to come to church on Sunday or Wednesday...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we are too lazy to go to the gym and take care of the bodies that God has gifted to us...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

Should I go on?  Have I stepped on your toes enough yet?  I'm not sure God is quite done stepping on my toes yet...so I'll go on.

When we decide that "necessities" like cable, blackberry service, nicer cars, i-Pods, i-Pads, i-Phones, fancy clothes, expensive hair cuts, (this list really could go on forever), etc. are more important that putting money in the offering plate on Sunday morning...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that our "image" is more important than serving God...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide that working longer hours to pay for the aforementioned "necessities" is more important that going to church...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we decide to skip a youth program because our "friends" aren't going to be there...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

Sorry...just a few more toes to get.  Mine aren't quite hurting enough yet.

When we decide that family vacations are more important than mission trips or serving others...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we keep silent when we see others being picked on...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we feel just "too uncomfortable" to stop and talk to the homeless man begging for money...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

When we have our schedules so full that there is not really time for much of anything...We are saying, "Jesus, there is no room for you in my heart."

Truth is, I could go on and on and on and on...but I think you are catching my drift.
Whether we admit it or not, we all prioritize our lives.  Too often, God gets what is left of us, and not everything that we are.  Too often, we fit God in where it is convenient instead of making God first.

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard while working in the church, "but my child has to go to this, we are trying to teach them that you follow through with your commitments."

I understand that feeling, I do.  I played lots of sports, I was in the band, and I was in scouts.  I got good grades so I could get into college.  I was in clubs, I had a job...I did lots of the things that fill our schedules.

True, lots of those things made me who I am today, but just about all of those things are no longer a part of my life.  God is though.  I hope that when I am a parent, that I teach my children that they follow through with their commitments as well.  However, I hope the number one thing I teach them to commit to is their faith. 

Sunday soccer is important...and often expensive, but God is going with you to college, and soccer is most likely not.

All of those "when we" statements above are important.  You can make great arguments as to why they are important and necessary.  However, God is the one thing that is always going to be with us.

Friends will one day be gone, one day we will not have the physical body able to do the sports, one day our minds will not be as sharp as they used to be, family members will one day be gone...this world is temporary.

The one thing that is eternal is our relationship with God.

We may never intentionally tell God that there is no room in the "inn" of our hearts for Jesus, but our actions often say it very clearly.

Sometimes there are guest in our homes that simply just stay too long.  Sometimes we have to kindly ask them to leave.

What is it that is taking up too much space in your heart to leave room for Jesus?