Growth in Love

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.