Matthew 28:19-20  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The ‘Great Commission’ struck me as a fitting capstone to the last three weeks of these devotionals.  It speaks of making disciples and what they are to be taught; what kind of people we are to become as disciples of Christ.  Over this period of time we have been looking at the treasure contained in Romans 12:9-21.  As we noted at the start, these verses contain guiding principles and qualities that we must have in our lives in order to be the men and women that God has chosen and destined us to be.  They identify what a Christian should be like.

Here is the list contained in the verses of Romans 12:9-21

• Love must be sincere
• Hate what is evil
• Cling to what is good
• Be devoted to one another in love
• Honor one another above yourselves
• Never be lacking in zeal
• Keep your spiritual fervor
• Serve the Lord.
• Be joyful in hope
• Be patient in affliction
• Be faithful in prayer.
• Share with the Lord’s people who are in need
• Practice hospitality
• Bless those who persecute you
• Bless and do not curse
• Rejoice with those who rejoice
• Mourn with those who mourn
• Live in harmony with one another
• Do not be proud
• Be willing to associate with people of low position
• Do not be conceited
• Do not repay anyone evil for evil
• Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
• If it is possible, live at peace with everyone
• Do not take revenge
• Leave room for God’s wrath
• If your enemy is hungry, feed him
• If he is thirsty, give him something to drink
• Do not be overcome by evil
• Overcome evil with good

What a beautiful list of attributes that should characterize each of us!  The more we look like these – the less we look like the world.  Do we recognize that the items in this list are in reality Jesus’ commands to all who would be His disciples?  It is by doing these things (i.e., obeying His commands) that we love God and demonstrate the reality of our friendship with Him.  As the song says, ‘And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.  Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.’