Mary’s Singular Focus
Luke 1:26-56
The Christmas season can be hard on women. In addition to ongoing responsibilities in various aspects of life, the Christmas season seems to ramp up most peoples’ expectations. For example, normally there might be an expectation to keep a clean house, and now we need to decorate it in pretty ways and keep it clean. Before we might feel the pressure to have meals ready for family members, and now those meals and treats need to be even more special.
We often feel the need to be sure our loved ones have the various things they need on any given week, but now there is added pressure to give them special gifts that will bring them even more joy. For many there are also additional social obligations. We may need to entertain relatives in our homes more frequently and attend holiday events that might be associated with our jobs, children’s school productions, extra church services, etc.
In many families and cultures, people think it is the woman’s responsibility to make a holiday special. The pressure usually falls disproportionately on her. As the woman in the family, it is her job to make sure it is memorable and a good experience for everyone. Because of this, sometimes women can feel like they have to be everything for everyone during the Christmas season. But is that what God is asking of us? Is that the measurement we are held to? Is that how we discern if we are faithful and being the person we are supposed to be?
I think in the story of Mary we can find hope and encouragement to follow a different path. Through her story we see a courageous woman who chose a more singular focus. Rather than trying to be everything that others thought she should be, Mary seemed to care only about being faithful to her Lord and letting God do in and through her what He desired so that His purposes in the world might be furthered.
Why do I think she had a singular focus? When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary she was already engaged to Joseph (Luke 1:27). What is remarkable is that when she heard what God was asking her to do, she didn’t ask questions like, “But what will Joseph think?” She also didn’t mention questions or concerns about what immediate family members or neighbors might say.
In that era of history if a young woman became pregnant before her marriage was consummated, she could have been stoned to death. At the very least her honor and reputation would be significantly damaged, yet she did not question God’s plan? Instead, she seemed singularly focused on letting God do with her life as He desired so His plans in the world would be fulfilled.
What a courageous example she sets for all of us! When we step back and ponder Mary’s story, I think we see within it a remarkable example of genuine discipleship before Jesus taught His followers what the concept meant. For example, being a disciple requires saying “yes” when God calls us to follow Him (Matthew 4:19; Matthew 8:22; Matthew 19:21). Jesus also taught that there would be a cost to following Him which required sacrifice and suffering (Matthew 16:24-27).
Being a disciple also means setting aside our old identity and taking on a new one (2 Corinthians 5:17). More than meeting others’ expectations we are called to live into God’s expectations. Jesus taught that the values of the Kingdom of God were quite opposite from what most of us see the world valuing (Matthew 5:1-12).
Jesus taught his followers to live with a singular focus. Scripture teaches us to keep our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:1-3). Mary had that type of singular focus. She sought God’s will first and foremost, and she experienced sacrifice and suffering as a result of her decision. One example of this is seen when Herod sought to kill her child, and she and Joseph had to flee at night and live as refugees in Egypt (Matthew 2:1-23). She also now had a new identity that was shaped by God’s promises and purposes (Luke 1:46-55).
We celebrate this Christmas season God’s gift to the world which surpasses anything else we could imagine (John 3:16). May we this Christmas season realize we don’t have to be everything for everyone. We can be courageous like Mary and live with a singular focus. May we keep our eyes and hearts fixed upon our Lord this Christmas season and watch in wonder at what God does in our midst!
Questions:
What do you most admire about Mary as you read about her in Scripture?
Are there any expectations you are taking upon yourself this Christmas season that might not be God’s expectations?
What might help you to walk closely with Him during this busy time of the year?
