What is My Focus

     Maadi Community Church is where Sam and I have been worshipping since we moved to Cairo. It is a diverse congregation-a global congregation, really. It is so neat because people from many nations worship together-as I imagine it will be one day in heaven! We have been celebrating Advent these weeks prior to Christmas.  The universal theme of the messages has been the FOCUS of Christmas. 
     The first week of advent the angels prophesied to Mary that she would bear the Christ child, the Messiah. Mary could have focused only on herself, but the message given to Mary pointed to the Christ-child. She put her focus and her trust in God. 

     The second week’s sermon covered Joseph being visited by an angel with a message that Mary carried God’s Son. This visitation wasn’t about Joseph, or Mary-it focused Joseph’s attention on the coming Messiah. He put his focus and trust in God and did what was asked of him. 

     The Shepherds were visited by a host of heavenlies declaring the Good News! It wasn’t about them being ‘lucky’ to have been serenaded by a choir. The angels, though amazing, were there to point the shepherds to the birth of Jesus. The Shepherds focused on their message and went to worship Him. Everything else became less important. 

     Finally, last Sunday’s focus was on the star. The star was beautiful; it attracted attention. Even the glorious star of heaven had a focus-the Birth of Jesus-which stirred men from the East to follow it to the manger.  

     In each instance there was a focus on something much more amazing than the incident itself! Each person involved was directed to focus on something greater. That something greater is Jesus, of course. 

     It is easy to enjoy the pageants, plays, parties, and presents and lose sight of the greater gift.  I am having to examine myself and ask, “What is my focus this Christmas?”