From Advent to Epiphany: a Call to Discipleship: Reflections from Paul's Letter to the Colossians

By Morgan Moore

Sometimes life feels overwhelming and chaotic. Sometimes we veer off course, neglecting our most important relationship with Jesus. We may feel out of control, wondering how to get back on track, how to draw closer to our Creator and Savior.

The liturgical calendar provides a way to get back on track, a way to reorder our habits. It does not matter your denomination; the liturgical calendar offers all of us this opportunity to reorder our lives around Jesus. Will you join me on a spiritual Christmas journey, a journey of recentering our hearts and minds on Jesus, a journey starting in Advent and ending on Epiphany?

The Book of Colossians provides a unique lens for this wonderful time of year. Paul grounds his letter in the sovereign and glorious nature of Jesus. And, as we reflect on the Book of Colossians during Christmas, we are invited to slowly ponder the incarnation, our glorious God who shed the heavens and for a stable, the Word who became Flesh and dwelt among us. Will you join me on this Christmas journey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664278394

Morgan Moore

Morgan Moore, an Atlanta native, gave her life to Christ at the age of fifteen. Morgan and husband Joel lived and served in Atlanta’s inner city while raising their three children. When Joel completed seminary, the family moved to San Angelo, Texas where Morgan became a pastor’s wife, a student at Fuller Seminary, and a Christian author. https://www.theabidingbranch.com/

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Copyright © 2022 Morgan Moore.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-7840-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7841-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7839-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022917078

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/27/2022

Contents

Introduction

First Week of Advent

You Are Invited

Grace and Peace

Practicing Prayer

True Hope Bears Fruit

What Is the Knowledge of God?

An Invitation to Wait

The Hope of the Gospel

The Second Week of Advent

Faith Takes Risks

The Mystery Made Known

Paul’s Purpose for Writing

Encouraged and United in Love

The Antidote to Deceptions

Live Like Walking Trees

The Practice of Thanksgiving

The Third Week of Advent

Life Overflowing

Complete in Christ

Authentic Life in Christ

The Great Paradox

The True Substance

Jesus Changes Hearts

The Face of a Beautiful Structure

The Fourth Week of Advent

Actions Reflect the Heart

Christ Is All and in All

Bending Lower

The Peace of Christ

Christmas Eve: The Light Pierces the Darkness

Christmas to Epiphany

Christmas Day: Be Thankful

Faithful Family Life

Jesus Reorients Relationships of Power

Leveraging Loving Justice

Devote Yourself to Prayer

Graciousness Seasoned with Salt

New Year’s Eve: You Are Not Alone!

New Year’s Day: Life-Giving Power

Building Bridges

Worn Knees

Persevere in Love

Encouraged to Complete the Task

Epiphany

The Benediction

Endnotes

Bibliography

To the glory of Jesus Christ and

in gratitude to my family for their loving support.

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Introduction

Sometimes life feels overwhelming and chaotic. Sometimes we veer off course, neglecting our most important relationship with Jesus. We may feel out of control, wonder how to get back on track, and how to draw closer to our Creator and Savior.

The liturgical calendar provides a way to get back on track, a way to reorder our habits. It does not matter your denomination; the liturgical calendar offers all of us this opportunity to reorder our lives around Jesus. Will you join me on a spiritual Christmas journey, a journey of recentering our hearts and minds on Jesus, a journey starting in Advent and ending on Epiphany?

The book of Colossians provides a unique lens for this wonderful time of year. Paul grounds his letter in the sovereign and glorious nature of Jesus. And as we reflect on the book of Colossians during Christmas, we are invited to slowly ponder the incarnation, our glorious God who shed the heavens for a stable, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.

This Christmas devotional combines theological insight and an invitation into spiritual formation, a combination Paul himself uses to teach the Colossians. Paul loves the Colossians. He desires the Colossians to be mature in Christ. This profound letter methodically invites the Colossians into continuous transformation in Christ, a transformation that ripples across all areas of life.

As a student at Fuller Seminary, some of my most transformative classes include what Fuller calls formation classes. In these classes, I have learned to abide in the One who most loves me. I have learned the importance of spiritual practices such as gratitude, prayer, solitude, stewardship, and community. Paul invites Jesus’s followers to live into these practices, to live a life rooted in Christ.

Paul also invites Jesus’s followers to reach outward in mission toward others. The book of Colossians invites us into discipleship, to love God and love others. Jesus calls us to be rooted in Him while also reaching out in love toward others. Jesus calls us to be disciples making disciples, Jesus’s followers making Jesus’s followers.

Come, let us step into the liturgical calendar and reorient our lives around Jesus. Come, let us behold the wonder of Christmas and be transformed by the One who most loves us.

A Special Note for Week 4 of Advent

The number of days during week 4 may not match the current Advent calendar. Please make personal adjustments. Depending on when Christmas Eve falls, during week 4 you may need to return to a meaningful day to reflect further, or you may need to read two devotions per day. The Advent calendar changes each year, so each year the reader will need to adjust.

First Week of Advent

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You Are Invited

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae. ¹

—Colossians 1:1–2a

In the spring and summer, my husband and I soak in the West Texas wildlife as we enjoy evening walks around the golf course. Deer slowly eat their way onto the lush green grass. A peacock sits on a fence. Ducks swim in the pond. Sometimes even a creepy tarantula walks down the cart path. We also watch new houses being built. The builder clears the land, lays the foundation, and begins to frame the house. Each part must be completed before the next part can begin.

The letter to the Colossians reminds me of this building process. Paul clears the land, pours the foundation, frames his lesson, and then slowly adds clarifying details. As we journey through Colossians, we will witness Paul teaching the Colossians how to grow in Christ. Brick by brick, lesson upon lesson, Paul creates a beautiful picture of Christian discipleship.

So how does Paul build the foundation? First, Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, a person on mission with Jesus. ² Paul loves the Colossian people, and he desires that they continue growing in their faith. For this reason, Paul purposely identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, purposely affirming that his