The past several devotionals have been about hearing (or discerning) God’s voice in our lives. 

We’ve talked about the importance of the Bible, prayer, seeking the counsel of other godly people, and being humble.

Here’s something else to consider: love.

If you think you’re receiving some sort of message for God, and it does not compel you to be more loving toward others, then you’re not hearing from God. In John 13:34 Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Love is proactively seeking God’s best for someone, often in a self-sacrificial way.

This is difficult. Loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean doing what you want, or what is popular, or what is easy. It also doesn’t necessarily mean doing what the other person wants.

But love is important to God. Therefore, it should be important to God’s people.

If you think God is trying to say something to you, but it doesn’t make you want to love others better or more, then you’re not tuned in to the right frequency. 

But if you think God is trying to say something to you, and it does in fact make you want to love others better or more—and if it’s consistent with Scripture, is the subject of your prayers, has been discussed with other godly people, and comes from a truly humble heart—you are most likely headed in a good, godly direction.

Love is proactively seeking God’s best for someone, often in a self-sacrificial way.

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Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.