Devotionals for the Heart: How to measure our love for God and others

God’s KPI: Measuring Love, Not Just Numbers
A devotional by Christine Monteiro

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”—John 13:34-35 (NIV)

We as Christians are taught to love one another, care for each other, and give them comfort when they are in need. But sometimes it is hard to follow that advice.

People’s lives are getting more demanding day by day. The busyness of life with priorities, the test of making the right decisions, and the accelerating pace of daily living leave no time to think or have quiet moments.

Living in the world’s biggest Muslim country has its challenges. We as Christians are outnumbered. The mix between the two religions is no longer obvious because families are mixed and friendships are blended between people of different faiths. It is hard to stand and be “the light” (Matthew 5:14-16) and “the salt” (Matthew 5:13) because we normalize many things. Yet, we are called to be different by showing God’s love.

In the world of business, KPIs (Key Performance Indicator) are not a foreign topic. In a company, we are required to create a KPI both for our department and ourselves. When we put in our KPI, all we talk about are numbers. They measure success with numbers noting everything from sales to growth to followers and to profits. All aspects should be measurable, as the KPI will directly impact our salary increase and bonuses. Therefore, we are all motivated to put our best effort into achieving the KPI so we can receive better compensation.

In some Christian mission organizations, they also apply KPIs to measure the effectiveness of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to note the number of souls reached within a year. I found it interesting because in my experience, we have our part in sharing the Gospel, but it is the Holy Spirit who works in an individual’s heart to accept Jesus Christ. Many Christians feel pressured to produce results and note how many people we’ve evangelized, how many programs we run and how many followers are in our ministry.

I started to think about it. I observed that some organizations are more excited about mass outreach rather than a personal approach, which might take more time. It seems that time becomes less efficient when spent one-on-one versus having an event. Not to mention that church members also need to care for each other. If we can’t care amongst other Christians, how can we become a witness to the unbeliever? While evangelism is crucial (Matthew 28:19-20), God never asked us to trade discipleship and care for the sake of statistics.

Sometimes we’re so focused on reaching outsiders that we neglect brothers and sisters right next to us who are hurting. God’s Word (The Holy Bible) encourages us to do good to all people, especially to minister to our family of believers. Galatians 6:10 (NIV) says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

I want to believe that God’s KPI is different than what we have in our mind. God measures not how many we reached, but how faithfully we loved. KPI in the kingdom is different. It looks like this (see the three Bible verses below):

· Love for one another (1 John 3:16-18)

· Care for the overlooked (Matthew 25:40)

· Faithfulness in small things (Luke 16:10)

The early church wasn’t known for “conversion count” but for community living, generosity, and unity (Acts 2:42-47). This Biblical truth makes me ask myself questions daily such as: Am I checking in on fellow believers who are struggling? Do I encourage and build up the body of Christ, or do I only look outward?

Evangelism is vital, but discipleship and love for the family of faith must not be abandoned. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I am reaching out to our fellow Christians to help me continue to grow in my faith walk and my relationship with Jesus Christ. Remembering God’s KPI instead of the standard business KPI will make us do what Christ wants us to do. The only thing that makes us different from others in our faith is the love of Christ for all of us.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, help me to see people the way You do. Teach me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ with patience and care. Keep me faithful in discipleship, not chasing numbers but living out Your KPI of faithfulness, love, and obedience. May my life reflect your kingdom values. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “The Cause of Christ” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “By Our Love” by Christy Nockels. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Jars of Clay. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christine Monteiro is a certified transformative coach, writer, and keynote speaker who is passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of purpose, personal growth, and resilience. 

Christine’s journey to becoming a coach started four years ago, following the loss of her husband to brain cancer. That experience left her feeling as though she had lost her purpose—a feeling she deeply understands in clients who she works with now. Through self-discovery and training, Christine found the missing pieces in her life and regained her purpose and drive that now motivates her to help others.

Christine coaches her clients from all walks of life—from young adults to retirees—helping them to embrace change, set meaningful goals, and confidently pursue their dreams. She has received training through Creative Results Management and holds credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christine also has certifications in Positive Psychology and Mental Health Coaching from Yale and Light University. Her diverse approach to coaching her clients combines empathy with strategic insight, helping them to navigate every stage of life.

When she writes, Christine likes to focus on topics like finding purpose, coping with grief, and achieving personal transformation. As she writes, Christine draws from her own experiences as a single mom and empty nester. She enjoys sharing these insights on various platforms to reach a wider audience and foster community support.

When not coaching or writing, Christine spends her time sipping black coffee and swimming in the pool. She has found that having three independent children gives her a privilege to have a lot of “me time” that she didn’t have when they were growing up.