Lifejournal: Marks of a True Christian

S: "Let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, and hold fast to what is good."

Romans 12:9

O: In regards to this passage in Romans where Paul writes of the marks of a true Christian, I would think it would be very appropriate to see this as wisdom and guidance for the true Christian. Rather than actually being characteristics or traits of a person-it's interesting to see that this is a list of commands-a lot of things that Paul expects a true Christian to do and strive after. At the same time, I can see how much of this may just naturally occur for the one who is regenerate. However, it is also in good wisdom to test ourselves and meditate on these commands, which are without a doubt, good.

"Let love be genuine." When I see this command, I immediately think upon Luke 10:27 where Jesus spoke of the two greatest commands-loving the Lord and others.

The greek word for love (in this context) is agape, which is used extensively in regard to how God loves us and how we should love others.

(A:)For my love for God to be genuine, I know that my devotion for him shows through how I spend my life. If I am seeking him daily, meditating on his word, and actually doing it because I want to, it's clear to see where my heart lies. It's not even the matter of how many times I do it, but rather if my heart really seeks out God that I could not help but to want know him and enjoy him fully-glorifying him.

For my love of people to be genuine, it's yet again the time I spend with others as well as keeping them in my heart-praying for them, lifting up their needs. I know that I lack in showing love for others due to the fact that I'm used to keeping to myself-my selfishness is most apparent when I'm with others or how my attitude is towards others. I need to work on "considering others to be better than myself (Philippians 2:3)," both in my prayer life as well as being mindful of those directly placed in my life. I will also love others in the same consideration of

(O:) "...Abhor what is evil" I knew that abhor meant something along the lines of strongly hate-but I like the merriam webster definition more:

Regard with disgust and hatred.

So regard evil with disgust and hatred. Or, better - Regard sin with disgust and hatred. This is difficult for me because I know much of my ill-spent time or bouts with pornography or whatever else is something that I label as sin, but don't regard as something disgusting or loathsome. However, Scripture calls us to hate sin- the greek word for abhor (apostygeō), goes on to further expand how we should feel: "to have a horror of" sin.

(A:) I must spend more time with God-I think it would only be natural to take in what is good and holy to see a clear distinction of what is not good / what is evil and to thereby react accordingly. For now, I feel as though I am numbed to my own sin at times-but I certainly don't want to continue in this manner. I want to hate sin as God hates sin.

(O:) "...hold fast to what is good." I find it more interesting that the English language really fails me in comparison to how illustrative the original greek is: "kollaō," Which means to glue together, or cement. To fasten or join together firmly. This same word is used with how a man and woman getting married should join together as one. Or how when someone joins with God becomes one spirit with him. There (I thought this was funny) is also an instance where Jesus spoke of dust clinging to feet where the original word is used.

Anyhow, this is incredibly strong imagery-that we should cling to what is good to such a degree that we are one with it-as if we are married to it, one spirit with it, and like how dust naturally clings to our feet; We ought to cling to what is good the moment we know something is good.

What is good? I know that God is good. The same word is used to describe Christ, a person who bears good fruit, and so forth.

(A:) Over and over again I see that God is telling me to cling to him. To love God is to be with him. An abhorrence of evil comes from spending time with God. To cling to what is good is to cling to God.

P: Father, I am glad that upon meditating upon this Scripture-you showed me all the roads to where these commands lie: In loving you, all of these will be fulfilled. I ask that you place in my heart a drive and desire to know and love you all the more. These very commands I cannot accomplish on my own-I cannot purify my heart or motive when it comes to loving you or others. May you search my heart and prod it in the direction where it would be most pleasing to you-do what you will with my time, dreams, and life so that you may be most glorified (I pray that you may occupy my heart with joy so that I may forget how crappy this world is (Ecc 5:20). Let the love of Christ be made alive in my heart so that I may in turn understand how to be devoted to Christ.

I cannot hate evil when my heart is consumed with it-please forgive me of my daily failure to love you and others as well as my failure to take you as the greatest pleasure of my life. Yet again, I ask you to change my heart, Holy Spirit, in the direction where God may be most renowned in my heart and life so that I may truly hate and draw back in horror of what is evil. Lastly, I pray that you give me a heart full of the desire to not only draw close to you God, but full of desire to cling to you and what is good and righteous. In complete honesty-I don't know how to cling to you other than to seek out what you have to say in your word, listen to it, and try my best to seek you in prayer. Please make me diligent in those things and I pray that it may fruitful (good fruit, that is). All these things I pray in Christ, amen.