Do you have what it takes

Many times we come up short because we dont have what it takes. Paul uses the 2nd half of Chapter 12 to show you the marks of a true Christian. When you read this you may find we have some Christian deficiency. Many who profess to be Christians come up short when we look for the marks of a true Christian.

Back in the 70’s a movie entitled Sparkle was released. Dont judge me but I live my life vicariously through songs and cinema. There was a moment in the film when Sparkle was unsure of her abilities to lead the group after her sister was unable to lead. He man Stix felt she had what it took to be the next lead singer. It was avery touching moment. He started singing If you look into your heart.

If you look into your heart with the positive mind Take self inventory of your woman and your glory Leave the bad things behind Everybody's got a story about the love and the good things But for the spices of your life, you got to pay the price If you know what I mean.....

Yes this is something the saint must do today. We need to take inventory to see if we have what it takes to be a True Christian. We need to show some signs of our salvation. We need to show some signs of our walk with Christ! The signs when displayed will help the Church be the Church.

After Paul makes his appeal fr us to offer our bodies a living sacrifice holu ans acceptable to God. After he reminds us not to think so highly of ours, After he enlightens us about the variety of gifts in the body of Christ according to Gods grace he said use them… let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. I told you last week those gifts are irrevocable. ().

Look at what

Then Paul changes course an instructs us to let love be genuine. I can really stop there. For when we think of the love of God we should have nothing but love to share. Genuine LOVE!

in order to love genuinely we MUST Abhor Psalm 97:10

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

10  O you who love the LORD, hate evil!

He preserves the lives of his saints;

he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (). Wheaton, IL:

10  O you who love the LORD, hate evil!

anything that is worthless.

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. So the initial challenge is to let our love be genuine. Love one another with brotherly affection. A s the Hebrew writer puts Let brotherly love continue.

He preserves the lives of his saints;

Our duty as Christians is to love. Jesus was adamant about loving each other in John alone Jesus said it 3 times. It appears 11 times in the Bible all in the New Testament.

he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

(). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

We know that love is the start but then there is a list of other things we need to to.

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.

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. ().

This list of Christian character is missing with many saints. This is why we have to look into our own heart to see if we have what it takes. If we have some lack ask the Lord to help.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.