December 13th
Fifteenth Day of Advent
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according the human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
Colossians 2:8-10
The way Paul uses words fascinates me. In these two short verses, Paul draws a sharp contrast between worldly empty deceit and the whole fullness of Christ. Emptiness of the world and the fullness of Christ. Do you see it?
Paul further explains the philosophy and empty deceit that so threatens the church. He describes the threat as…
According to human tradition (likely addressing Jewish law)
According to the elemental spirits of the universe (likely addressing pagan gods)
I wonder… what threatens today’s Christian? What are today’s idols that might lead us astray? Consumerism? Individualism? Sexualities? Political parties? Social media? Without a doubt, worldly deceits bombard today’s Christian, often without us even being aware of their influence.
So, how do we meet this threat? How do we guard our hearts and mind? Paul again reaches back to the Christological hymn in Colossians 1:15-20, reminding us of the fullness of Christ, the deity that shed the glories of heaven for a humble stable.
All things have been created through and for Him.
He is before all things.
In Him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body.
He is the beginning, the alpha.
He is the first born from the dead.
In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
In Him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things.
And because of the fullness of Christ, we are made complete in Him. Our cup overflows with the fullness of Christ as we abide in the One in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Living in completeness, living as an overflowing cup… blocks off the space for which worldly deceit can fill.
Jesus Christ, the head of every ruler and authority, shed the glories of heaven for a humble stable… for us. So that we might be made complete in Him, so that we might live in true joy. He is coming….
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