What a year it's been. Coming full circle to Christmas again🎄, I see the bright lights, the decorated tree, the family gatherings, and the caroling songs beaming from every corner.. Yet is that what it's truly about?🤔
A few days ago I went to Kebon Jeruk and heard a peculiar song called "Silent Night" my heart overflowed and tears started streaming out. I didn't understand why.. yet the song just resonated. Today I was reminded off how the Ancient Greeks viewed love:
The Greeks🏺 saw that a person's life relationship is multifaceted. In which we love our family as storge love, loving our friends as philia, loving our significant others in ludus, eros that over time turns into pragma or enduring love. Or even unhealthier love from mania to which we may compulsively obsessed about others, to the more narcissistic love of philautia self love. And yet what about Agape Love?
Agape is simply selfless love, a unconditional love. To love somebody not because if they are worthy, but because we love them "just because" we love them. Rob Bell give a great definition:
A unconditional love.. I never truly understood what this meant. All throughout my life, I "tried" filling my life seeking friends, familial love, and even romantic love. Yet believe it or not nothing ever fills that "need". The reality is we live in a broken world. To which all love is conditional. A love that maybe classified as a mutualistic symbiotic relationship👫:
"
In which two different species interact with and in some cases, totally rely on one another for survival.
Organisms live in mutualistic relationships for a number of important reasons, including a need for shelter, protection, and nutrition, as well as for reproductive purposes.
"
-ThoughtCo. Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships-
Parents intrinsically expect something when their kids grow up. We hope our significant other can "understand" us. We are "friendly" just because maybe one day we may need that person one day. Etc. Etc... And rightfully so, we live to survive and we need to rely on others to ensure that survival. As Darwin would say "survival off the fittest". Yet only but recently have I realized a better life through knowing Agape Love. How can a person love selflessly...?
The short answer is—we can't.
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
I once had a friend who told me that they wished to be a "good" person in their life🚶🏿♂️. Yet can someone be truly good? Who defines good? And what is the basis off goodness? I believe that no one is truly good except for God Himself. When we truly judge ourselves, haven't we lied before? Disobeyed the traffic law? Or did you know that by keeping anger inside is the same as murdering someone? That looking at a person lustfully/sexually is the same as committing adultery?
The more I learn, the more I know how unrighteous I am. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God💔, and looking back at my past, I never once sought God. When I was living in my muddy sinful crappy life, I thought I was fine. And in a delusional frenzy I didn't realize my body withering, my direction in life going downhill...⬇️
Yet one day. That fateful day, there once was a humble baby whose life changed the course off my own life:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;🌟 and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everltasting Father, Prince of Peace.
A baby who was rejected by all came into this world in humbleness. His birth started a chain reaction that has transformed my life even till today. He sought after me and saved me at the Cross✝️. He loved me unconditionally❤️ despite me rejecting Him all my life. He believed in me when all else didn't. And even when I fall, He is there to pick me up... I never truly understood what love is until I knew Jesus Christ on a personal level😭.
Reflection
Dear Jesus, thank You. After singing "Silent Night"🌟 Your reminded me off a love so pure. A love so divine. That comforts the very depths off my soul. We love because He first loved us. I may never understand why You would enter my life. There are many people out there better than me. Smarter, kinder, more qualified—and yet why have You chosen me, a sinner like me?😭
I may never understand why😱. Yet I am thankful. I felt like I was there that fateful silent night... Whenever people recite:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
To me this is not just another verse. To me this is the start off my life😭. If Jesus never was born, I would NOT be here today. To me Christmas is not about all the trinkets and traditions.
Christmas is about remembrance and starting point to which Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior came. He has shown me Agape Love to which I don't deserve.🕊️
Thank You Jesus for coming into this world🤗.
And [we] are justified by His grace as a gift🎁, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
thankYou for Your Agape Love, thankYou for this gift—another year in knowing You.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—🤲✝️👑
You are worthy off all praise🎺! You are the Lord of lords and King of kings 🛐… Soli Deo Gloria. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
📖References📖
Romans 3:10-12; 23-24
Isaiah 9:6
1 John 4:19
John 3:16
Philippians 3:8-9
Updated on: December 20, 2021 | December 25, 2021
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Credits: 📷Kari Shea | 📷Rosie Chomet | 📷Rob Bell | 📷Silent Night | 📷Kirk Cameron |
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