Thursday December 5, 2013
Colossians 1:15-23

There are a number of key ‘what do you believe’ questions that arrive in the lives of Christian disciples. One of them is about the nature of Jesus. Throughout time, people have been generating ideas and opinions about the identity of the Lord. Some say he was a really good guy. Others would claim that he held status as a prophet. Still others would say he was a spiritual being with no physical presence. The Apostles’ Creed tried to answer the question using 65 words to describe the central features of his life with language like conceived, born, suffered, crucified, dead, buried, rose, ascended…and my favorite, sitteth.

From a traditional Christian point of view we say that Jesus was fully human and fully divine all at the same time. From the child in the Bethlehem manger to the man dying on the cross at Calvary, he is the Son of God who carried the pain and knew the promise.

Sometimes it is easier to describe what Jesus ‘means’ in our personal lives. We struggle with theological language and historical detail but most of us can talk about the love, forgiveness, and grace that we discovered when we came to know Jesus as Savior.

The early Christians in Colossae had the same difficulty describing Jesus. So the Apostle Paul helped them with their theological lessons by providing them with a description. It is the verse that we have been memorizing this week from Colossians 1:15. Jesus (the Son) is the image (the exact likeness) of the invisible (spiritual) God, the firstborn (eternal) over all creation.

Our Advent task is to wait on the Lord by Waiting On (and in) The Word. We wait, but we also wonder. How does the child of Mary and Joseph become the firstborn over all creation? The incarnation (spirit that becomes flesh) of Jesus is described for us in Philippians 2:6-11. But the very best description of how Jesus came in flesh and dwelt among us is your personal testimony of how you have seen Jesus being active in your life.

Take some time today to reflect on how you have seen the Lord ‘alive’ in your life as you Wait On the Word.

Memory Verse For This Week:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
– Colossians 1:15

Missional Prayer Focus For Today:
Please pray for the mission ministry of Dusty and Kim Hill as they serve through Wycliffe Bible Translators in Uganda. Ask God to protect them and their children while they are producing God’s Word in the many tongues of the Ugandan people.

Note: Be sure to join us tonight for a light meal and a group conversation about our Advent study from 5:30 to 7:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your bible, your questions, and an appetite as we dig a bit deeper and share our experience of Waiting On The Word!