Golden Nugget: “We love because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

Daily Message:

Love—both for God and love for one another—must the number one priority for every believer. Jesus gave his followers this charge on the night before his death: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

None of us naturally love others enough to lay down our lives for them; we were born with self-centered natures. We must learn to love that way, and the ability to do so is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. 

A basic definition of love is learning to “seek the highest good” for others. God demonstrated that kind of love for us in the fact that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Christ’s life and death can teach us to love in his selfless way. Today, make the choice to learn to love like Jesus did.

Consider This:

• What is your biggest struggle with loving others?
• Who has shown you the greatest example of love other than God himself?
• What did you learn from them about love?

Take Action:

List three people who could benefit from a “random act of kindness” from you this week.
Decide what the act will be. It can be simple or creative. Thought matters! A cold bottle of water, a Starbucks card, or a magazine at the right time in the right place can make a real difference. The point is to show the people in your life that they are seen and cared for. Pray for those you reach out to—pray that God will turn the conversation toward him!