Marks of the True Christian

“Marks of the True Christian”… probably something I should know…
I’ve been going through a sort of drought in my quite time lately… it’s been a time where the words on the page seemed to be nothing more than just that… “words on a page.” However, last night I opened my ESV Bible to the book of Romans and a heading caught my eye. Just before Romans 12:9 I found the heading, “Marks of the True Christian.” Being that I am a Christian… I came to the obvious conclusions that these “marks” should be found in me… I don’t know if I’ve ever read this passage in its entirety. Sure, I’ve heard it quoted from many times, and I might’ve even read sections of it, but last night was the first time I truly took these words to heart and meditated on them…
As I began to read I found that the passage literally lists off several characteristics that should be found in all Christians… I found some to be especially convicting…
1. Genuine Love
2. Abhorring Evil
3. Holding fast to good
4. Brotherly love
5. Honor
6. Zeal
7. Fervent in spirit
8. Serve the Lord
9. Rejoice in hope (this is one I need to constantly be reminded of…)
10. Patients in tribulation
11. Constant Prayer (the one that convicted me the most… I mean I do pray a lot but God commands constant prayer… constant communion with Him)
12. Help others
13. Bless those who persecute you
14. Rejoice with those who rejoice
15. Weep with those who weep
16. Live in harmony with one another
17. Don’t repay evil with evil, but always do what is honorable
18. To the best of your ability, as much as is in your control, live in peace with all people
19. Don’t seek revenge
20. Help your enemies
21. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”
Read this passage… meditate on these truths… they are direct commands from the breath of God Almighty…