Context in This Advent Season

Recently I have been joking a bit about the strengths that matched me after I took a Strength Finders test at Crossroads. However, over the last couple weeks I have seen how context is an important part of my personal outlook.

According to the test:

Perspective and background are important for people with strong Context talents. They value the retrospective viewpoint because they believe that is where the answers lie. They look back to understand the present. From the past, they can discern blueprints for direction.

This partial definition resonates with me because I have always been fascinated by not only history but pop culture and historical events. I want to know and understand how they are all framed and how names, dates and people relate to each other.

Taking an example from the Bible, it makes sense that I have long been fascinated by Hebrews 11 and 12. In these two chapters we are first given a long lineage of Biblical heroes who were faithful to God. All of them sinned and fell at one point or another but ultimately they followed what God would have for them. It gets even better in chapter 12!

"We are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12; 1-2

Over summer this bit of scripture really struck me, but I just want to reiterate the same fact. As Christians we have such a rich lineage and we are following in the footsteps of some amazing figures. It is truly humbling and yet at the same time we can have a certain confidence, because we all fall short of the glory of God. We all must look to Jesus and what we He has done for us. We must all move forward by Faith.

This context will hopefully cause us to live our lives differently or at least constantly force us to realign ourselves. I know I personally need to remind myself of where I am at and where my focus needs to be, because I so often get distracted from where I fit into this long family line.

A wonderful thing about this time of year is that we have just entered a season of what is called Advent or the coming of Jesus. During the advent season we are waiting for something that has already come. Jesus came to earth as a baby and ultimately saved an entire world due to his sacrifice to remedy our own brokenness. That's why we sing Christmas carols like "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" or "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus."   In a sense we look back at that moment in time to look forward to what is and what is still to come. Because God is with us.

Hopefully during this Advent season we can have the proper context and it will allow us to enter this season with Joy because we know even a degree of the magnitude that this event in history has for our lives. Enjoy your time with friends and family, spending time together and singing Christmas carols. I know I am excited!

All the Glory to Him. Peace on earth and goodwill to men.