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  GROWTH IN LOVE
  by E. Stanley Jones
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Summary: We are destined to love and fulfilling this destiny brings
happiness and fulfillment.

Topics: "Love Of God", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: John 13:34, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Ephesians 1:5, Colossians 3:14, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:19

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DESCRIPTION
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E. Stanley Jones emphasizes the inherent capacity and necessity of love
within us, highlighting that self-interest and other-interest are both
inherent in children, with happiness found in being other-interested.
Our destiny is to love, and living against this destiny leads to
unhappiness for ourselves and those around us. By choosing to be people
of love, we align with the universe's design and fulfill our destiny,
making love our central life purpose.

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CONTENT
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The capacity and necessity of love is inherent within us. We stress the
inherent self-interest of the child, but the other-interest is just as
inherent in the child. This is obvious from the fact that if the child
is only self-interested, turning to selfishness, he or she is
automatically an unhappy child. The happy child is the other-interested
child. We are destined to love and this destiny is written with us. We
can live against this destiny and be unloving, but if we do, we are
automatically unhappy and automatically make those around us unhappy.

This passage tells us of our destiny: "destining us in love to be his
sons through Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 1:5, Moffat) We are destined to
be Christians, to be His sons, and that destiny came through His love --
"destining us in love." If that destiny came out of love, then it must
hold within it a destiny to love.

When you decided to be a man or woman of love, you are deciding to live
with the grain of the universe, not against it. You are fulfilling your
own destiny.

And since to be a man or woman of love is your destiny, then do what
Paul suggests: "Make love your aim," your life purpose. (1 Corinthians
14:1, Moffatt) This will take the business of love out of the ocassional
and the spasmodic and will make it the central controlling purpose of
your life. Then you will not be a person who occasionally loves when it
is convenient, but a person whose controlling life pupose is love. Love
will be the organizing motive and power in your life.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/e-stanley-jones/growth-in-love/
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