i think a human's love develops through time & struggles. i think a human's ability to love grows stronger throughout their life. i don't think the moment a person is born they love anyone to a full extent. in a way, people have to be taught to love.
In the book, Blue Like Jazz, (you should definitely check it out!) Donald Miller puts this take on it. "Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way."
i've grown up watching people love Jesus. at home. at church. at camps. on mission trips. at events. at concerts. on the street. in the hallways. at a lot of different places.
i read this quote on pinterest the other day, "I fall in love with people's passion, the way their eyes light up when they talk about the thing they love & the way they fill with light."
i've watched people love Jesus throughout my short lifetime. i've fallen in love with people's passion. i've unknowingly been taught how to love by numerous amounts of people in my life, and as i sit here, i can't even begin to explain how thankful i am for every person i've ever spoken with, or seen. i know meeting people, befriending people, and loving people is all a part of God's good works.
i've been taught how to love by people, but more than any person, i've been taught to love and be passionate by Jesus.
i can't, & probably won't ever be able to, fathom the complexity of Jesus' simple & beautiful love. i sit here thinking of how absolutely different His love is from mine. i've had to be taught to love, but Jesus has always known how to love. God created love. God is love. Jesus has always been passionate. God created passion. i've become passionate because i've been taught what passion is.
In Help Me Find My Own Flame by Will Reagan, the chorus says, "I don't want to ride on somebody else's passion. I don't want to find that I'm just dry bones. I want to burn with unquenchable fire. Deep down inside, see it coming alive. Help me find my own flame. Help me find my own fire. I want the real thing. I want your burning desire."
I love that song because it's just so true in my life. i don't want to be just dry bones. i want God to help me find my own flame. my own fire. & i do not want to ride on somebody else's passion. i want my own passion. my own real desire for the Lord growing bigger & brighter daily.
i am so thankful i have been able to watch Jesus love & in return love what He loves. & in return be passionate about His passions. & in return have a burning passion for Him. & in return, love Him. Jesus has constantly been pouring out His love & passion on me. i am so thankful i am able to serve a God who didn't have to be taught to do anything but instead graciously teaches me everything.
i'll leave you with this verse that stood out to me last night. (if you have time, go check out the chapter.)
1 Timothy 1:14 says, "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
