Lesson 28: Marks of the True Christian – 12:9-21
 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In our verses today we do not find a list of things we are to do. Rather we find a list of characteristics we will find in people who have given themselves to Jesus as a living sacrifice.

It is very difficult to make our love for others genuine. When we try to do so, we think of ourselves and how we must act. We then begin to worry about how we are being seen by others – do they see our love as genuine? Not long ago I heard a pastor say it is impossible for us to think of how things will affect us, and to also think of how to truly help another person at the same time. The reason for this is, when we think of ourselves, our focus is on us. When we are truly helping another, our focus is on them.


If we cannot make these things true in our lives by focusing on doing them, how are they to become part of our lives? We follow the example of Moses when he led the people of Israel out of Egypt. When they had reached Mount Sinai, Moses went up the mountain after hearing God’s call to meet Him there and talk with Him. We find this story in Exodus 34. Moses listened to God, he watched God’s finger write the Law into the stone tablets, he talked with God. When Moses came down from the mountain he did not realize his face was shining so brightly the people were afraid of him and asked him to cover his face.

When we spend time with Jesus every day, talking with Him, listening to Him, agreeing with what He wants to change in our lives, we don’t always realize the changes He makes in us. He might remind us of someone to whom we spoke sharply and ask us to seek forgiveness and speak more gently the next time. We don’t even realize we begin to speak more gently to everyone as a result.

*What have others told you about how you are different than you used to be before Jesus made you part of His family?