The Secret Sauce

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Can you guess what McDonald's Big Mac sauce, Chick-fil-A's sauce, Arby's Horsey sauce, and Coca-Cola syrup all have in common? They're all secret sauces; unique recipes that give these companies an edge on the competition. And no matter how hard competitors try, they can't quite replicate that distinctive taste.

The reality is that there is a secret sauce to every successful relationship, and particularly to marriage. It's found in one word—love.

But here's where things get tricky. The big question isn't whether you can love someone before marriage. The real question is, can two people who are in love before they marry stay in love after they marry? The answer depends entirely on what you mean by love.

Hollywood tells you love is a feeling. It’s butterflies, chemistry, and passion that sweep you off your feet. But that kind of love fades when the feeling does. God's love is completely different. In 1 Corinthians 13, God reveals what real love actually looks like. 

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not boast. These aren't feelings. They're actions. They're decisions you make even when you don't feel like it.

Real love isn't what you feel. Real love is what you do.

Right now, identify one way you can show patience to someone close to you. Instead of reacting when they irritate you, choose to respond with kindness. That's not romantic movie love that ends with the credits. That's the real secret sauce that keeps relationships alive for a lifetime.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing me that real love isn't about feelings but about actions. Help me choose patience and kindness today, even when I don't feel like it. Teach me to love the way You love. Teach me to love with actions that cost something. In Jesus' Name, Amen.