The new kid in town, once again boarded a bus to a new school. Scrawny, glasses that weren’t cool, clothes that weren’t cool, she stepped up and looked for a place to sit. The bus wasn’t crowded, but each seat had been claimed, a seat made for two children. Each sat near the aisle, not leaving room, not giving an inch or an opportunity for this skinny new kid.

She tried to be brave, asked if she could sit, but they just looked ahead, ignored her pleas. No one, not one offered her a place to sit, not one person made room for her. The bus driver finally stood to his feet and demanded one girl move over to make room for the new kid.

Trembling, she sat and tried to calm her heart, tried not to let a tear fall, not show how much it hurt. I know how she feels. I know, because I was that scrawny new kid.

Life is hard when no one will make room for you, room on the seat next to them, room for one more person, room to add a new friend in their lives. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the last time I felt an outcast or the last time I would be a new kid in town. As painful as that experience and others, God used each moment of pain. He’s used pain to heal me, used the pain to help me be sensitive to others, and used it to draw me closer to Him.

God knows how much it hurts when rejected. Jesus knows how we feel. He came to the earth He created and they didn’t make room for Him. Born in stable because there wasn’t room in the Inn. Rejected by men, but He didn’t let the rejection and pain stop Him. Jesus sacrificed Himself in our place, died on a cross, rose again and offers eternal life for all who will come, all who will make room for Him.

Jesus scoots over, pats the seat next to Him, and invites you to sit with Him, live with Him, where He makes eternal room for you in His heart and in Heaven.

He has made room for you, invites you in, will you make room for Him?

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.’” ~ Romans 10:9-11 (NCV)

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” ~ Revelation 3:20-21 (NLT)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” ~ Revelation 21:1-3 (NLT)

Making room first appeared on http://lisabuffaloe.com