December 4

Scripture Reading

Colossians 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Reflection

In the rush and clamor of the Christmas season, how easy it is to lose sight of the magnificent truth at the heart of it all: Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. As Paul declares, Christ is supreme over all creation, for in him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Col. 1:15, 19). In his wisdom, he created even the things that we accuse of distracting our service and worship.

During this season of Advent, let us pause to ponder the preeminence and preexistence of our Lord. Before the incarnation, before creation itself, Christ was. All things visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities—all were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Col. 1:16-17). What a glorious, humbling truth! And our Lord now comes as a helpless child to his creation.

Christ alone is supreme over all, and he alone is worthy of our unbridled allegiance. How often do we chase after lesser loves, our affections, and energies consumed by temporal things? But it is from him and through him and to him that all things find meaning (Rom. 11:36). This hymn from Romans 11 is matched only by today's passage in its clarity of adoration for our Creator. Seeing Jesus in the first place releases the power to dispel every excuse for worshiplessness.

When Christ took on flesh, becoming human while remaining fully God, he performed the most magnificent miracle of all—reconciling fallen humanity to the holy God

“by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20).

The babe in the manger, born to die on Calvary’s hill, is supreme over all. Behold the glory, the wonder! May his peace rule in our hearts.

This Advent, amid the busyness and stress, let us pause and meditate deeply on the surpassing greatness of Jesus above all things. Let us recapture a fresh vision of his preeminence over all our earthly pursuits and worries. As John Owen exhorted, “My goal is God Himself...At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.” May our passion be for Christ Himself, who alone is worthy. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and reign supreme in our hearts! Without you, we are lost; with you, we have all we need. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

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Notes

Song: Your Great Name, Natalie Grant.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Picture: Photo by Motoki Tonn on Unsplash