Scripture
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 1 John 3:18-20 The Message

Observation
Self-criticism. This is a parasite peculiar to Christians. We welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We know how to humble ourselves when he speaks and change our ways. But self-criticism attempts to do the work of the Holy Spirit with self-effort. If we can probe and analyze, then perhaps we can catch sin in our hearts before God does. What looks like something with good intent can be in fact a blockage to God’s working in our hearts. Self-criticism is not the Holy Spirit. Feelings of condemnation in the heart are not the voice of God.

So how can we know if we are pleasing the Lord? Simple. Just measure the love in our heart.

How can we measure the love in our heart without more analysis? Simple. Just look in your planner, your bank statement and your phone record. What have you done with time and money that demonstrates the love of God to others?

Love is not emotion, it is action. Action is measurable. We either loved or we did not.

Application
I just did a quick review of this past week. I met with many people and did many activities, but when I review the list I came up with these things that seemed to be particularly love-filled:

16.5 hours of time with people
$32 of gifts to others (plus my tithes and offerings)
4 phone calls
4 emails
5 FaceBook messages

At least I’m alive, but I can’t say my record is stellar in love for others. I need to be more proactive, particularly in contacting others to encourage them and in gifts toward others.

Prayer
Father, I want my love to be visible. Can you remind me when I forget to make it tangible? Please keep my love alive. Amen.