A Call to Discipleship: Reflections from Colossians

December 16th

Eighteenth Day of Advent

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them,

triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15

Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities, not through His power as a sovereign God, but through becoming a vulnerable baby, God taking the form of humanity. Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities by becoming a humble servant, sacrificing His life to nail our sin to the cross. Jesus became the essence of weakness to triumph over sin and death.

And Jesus invites us to follow Him.

Jesus invites us to lose our life to gain new life in Him.

In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus told His disciples of the sacrifice to come, His own suffering, death, and resurrection. In response, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him! Can you imagine? But… is it possible that we do the same thing? Is it possible that we rebuke Jesus with our unwillingness to lose our life for Him? Our unwillingness to…

Share the Gospel with a non-believer.

Accept responsibility for wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness.

Sacrifice our desires for someone else.

Sacrifice that coveted new “toy” for someone in need.

Let go of that unhealthy sexual relationship.

Find healing for an addiction that keeps us in bondage.

Love our enemy.

Forgive the unforgiveable.

Jesus lost everything, became the essence of weakness, suffered, died, and experienced separation from His Father… so that we might gain new life in Him.

And Jesus invites us to follow Him. Jesus told the disciples and Jesus tells us…

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?

Matthew 16:24-26

Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities by becoming a vulnerable baby. Jesus lost His life so that we might find our life. During this advent season, how is Jesus inviting you to lose your life… so that you might gain new life?