It’s so important in life to have a right main focus.
To have the right thing occupying your thoughts, the right thing motivating you, the right thing stirring your emotions, the right thing taking up your time and energy.

Is it your problems ?
Is it illness, enemployment, financial concerns ?
Is it work ?
Is it your family ?
Is it your spouse ?
No, none of these, so what is it, what does the Bible say is a right focus ?

“Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness” – Matthew 6:33.

“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:18.

“Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” – Colossians 3:1,2.

“…fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” – Hebrews 3:1.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:2.

We so often make life harder than it need be, we make things more stressful, because we have a wrong focus of our minds and hearts.
We might focus on things seen, particularly problems, but the Lord says,
‘Don’t worry, don’t be anxious, don’t be afraid, come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest’.
We walk by faith, and not by sight.
We live for Jesus, according to His Word, in the power of His Spirit.

Is your focus right this morning ?
If not, then do something about it.
Not only will your relationship with God not be what it should, but you will damage yourself and damage your relationships with others.
Fix your eyes, your thoughts, your emotions, your feelings, your motivation, your will….on Jesus, the risen Jesus, and on His Kingdom.

Over the next three weeks we’re going to look at three things which are particularly important for us at this time of year. Love, peace, and joy. This week it’s love.

Why is Christmas such a stressful time for many people ? Why is it so easy to lose that focus on the Lord ?
Well, there’s a lot to do, or to be arranged. There’s relatives to visit or have visit. ……but the key I believe is this – expectations.
Other people’s expectations of us, particularly family, and sometimes our own expectations. In other words sometimes we make things harder for ourselves.
Take the expectations of people out of Christmas and you remove the stress. Think about the truth of that for a moment.

Read 1 John 4:7-21 & 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

Love is about serving others, not demanding of them. If you have expectations of what others should do for you, then you’re not living in love.
Let them love and serve you if they want to, but don’t have that expectation and don’t manipulate others to do it.
God has shown us what love is about in Jesus, that’s as well as creation, the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and so on. Jesus gave everything for us. Jesus wasn’t demanding for Himself, He served others. And we’re called to follow Him, to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him.

So, in families, don’t be demanding of one another this Christmas, but look for ways in which you can serve the family and be a blessing to others. It can actually be great fun. Giving to others, loving them, can lift your spirits, because it’s what we’re made for – to love God and to love each other.

In marriages, serve one another and don’t be demanding. So what if you don’t have your favourite type of stuffing, so what if you end up washing up after the Christmas dinner, so what if you don’t have sex on Christmas day.
One of the biggest issues for some marriages, is that you make everything a big issue. Ant hills, turn into mountains.
Get your focus right, fix your eyes on Jesus, keep everything in perspective of the big picture.
(My spouse doesn’t squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom. They put the toilet role on the wrong way round. They don’t wash up straight away. They pick their toenails in bed. They forget to take that letter to the postbox for you. They don’t do what I want when I want – so what !). Get a life ! Jesus’ life, life in all it’s fullness.
Marriage is about serving, giving, loving….if you haven’t sussed that out yet, then you need to. It’s not about having your needs met and expectations fulfilled.
God’s love is unconditional.
Get rid of your expectations of other people, throw off everything that hinders….this is one of those things which gets in the way. Accept each other, as through Jesus, God accepts you.

If you’re single and dating, don’t be demanding of your boyfriend or girlfriend. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not, be real, be genuine, and don’t manipulate. Especially don’t use sexuality to manipulate. Be patient, and make sure Jesus is at the centre of your relationship. Without Jesus, any future marriage relationship is very likely to fail. Pray together.

If you’re single and not dating, you are in a place where you probably have more time, and if you’re working more disposable income, than you’re likely to have for the rest of your life.
Use it for God’s glory. Seek Him, serve Him, love Him with all that you are.
Be adventurous, go on missions, get experience of life and what God can do through you.

If you’re elderly or very ill, you may not be able to do things for people physically, but pray for them. What could be more valuable and precious ?

I don’t need to say much about this because I know most of you do this already, but watch out for people who are vulnerable, weak, or alone, at this time of year. Do what you can for them.

Whatever our life situation, we have opportunities to show love to others in some way – inside our families and outside. Especially in these next weeks leading up to Christmas and over the holiday time, let’s fix our eye’s on Jesus, and let’s love one another as He loves us. Amen.