Who do you love most?

To be honest, the person I usually love most is myself. I want what’s best for me. I look out for me. My choices are often guided by self-interest.

But, as Jesus taught us, real love looks different.

Real love is in big moments, sure. It’s there at weddings, funerals, births, and anniversaries.

But real love is also in the little things. It’s there when you patiently help someone cross the street. It’s there when you guide a wayward child and comfort a weeping one. It’s there when you hug a hurting friend, when you offer directions to a lost stranger, when you offer a smile to your disgruntled waitress. It’s there when you let your spouse have the last slice of pizza.

 Real love is something we can practice every day. We know what it looks like because Jesus showed us when he laid down his life for us. We can lay down our lives in little ways each day—all we have to do is ask God to show us how.

 Want to show true love today? You can read through these verses and pray with me for God’s guidance:

1. God, thank you for loving me better than anyone ever could. And thank you for inviting me to love people like you love me. Show me how to love the people around me today.
   Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. — Ephesians 4:2 (GNTD)
2. Lord, help me to be patient with the people around me. Teach me how to demonstrate compassion when I don’t feel compassionate.
   Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (GNTD)
3. God, continue to remind me of how much you love me. Let that reminder of your love encourage me to show true love to family, friends, and strangers. Help me to put others above myself. Amen.
   This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others! If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. — 1 John 3:16-18 (GNTD)