A Call to Discipleship: Reflections from Colossians

December 17th

Nineteenth Day of Advent

Therefore, do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festival days, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

Colossians 2:16-19

This passage begins with the word “therefore.” This signals a practical application to Paul’s previous theological discussion. Remember, Paul tells us that…

We have fullness in Christ

God made us alive in Christ

We were raised with Christ from the dead

Jesus forgives our sin

Jesus erases our record

He nailed our sin to the cross

He disarmed the rulers and authorities

THEREFORE, do not worry about what other men and women think about your faith in Jesus. Practicing the law offers only a shadow of the real substance. Salvation does not come through religion (law) but through relationship. In Christ, we need not chase shadows! Jesus offers Himself, the true substance, the true relationship. Instead of worrying about what others think of us, let us hold fast to the Head, Jesus Christ…

…from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews,

grows with a growth that is from God.

As a pastor’s wife, sometimes I worry about what others think of me and my faith. So easily, one can fall into the trap… prioritizing the outward image rather than the true substance. Jesus offers us so much more! Jesus invites us to cling to Him! Jesus invites us to live in the fullness of Him, confessing sin and living in true freedom… clinging not to the shadows, but to Jesus Christ Himself. And, as we hold fast to the Head, God draws us closer to Him.

During this third week of Advent, let us stop our efforts to please humanity and instead hold fast to the True Joy, the joy found in Jesus alone.