Marks of the Christian

As someone who has been commissioned by Christ to "make disciples of all the nations" how do you know when you have "made" a disciple? What do you look for? Are there telltale signs that demonstrate a person has transferred their loyalties to Christ? In reading Paul today in 1 Thessalonians 1 you can see the qualities that he looked for. In fact, you can find these same things in all of his epistles. So what did Paul look for? In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul says that as he thanks God for them he remembers their "work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope." In short, Paul looks for faith, love and hope. As he develops the passage he describes the faith as "turning to God from idols", the love as "to serve the living and true God", and the hope as "to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.?" You see Paul was convinced of their conversion - their coming to Christ - their being chosen by God (vs. 4). Paul's word of truth, the Gospel, came to the Thessalonians "not in word alone, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." Paul not only spoke the word, but he also lived it out. He embodied the truth he proclaimed. The crucified Christ whom he lifted up in their midst with his words was also seen in his life - a life which showed a compelling and sacrificial love. When the Thessalonians heard this message and saw it lived out, they responded. As proof of their response they began to imitate what they saw in Paul - ultimately what was true in the Lord Christ. They then took this same message and passed it on to others, who also experienced the message not just with words, but with a life saturated with faith, love and hope. Those really are keys to discipleship: a faith that looks to and trust in only the Lord Jesus Christ; a love that is not only directed to God and exhibited in obedience, but is directed to one's fellow man and is continually seeking their "eternal" good; and a hope that causes one to live in light of eternal realities instead of being mired in earthly things which are so soon to be passing away. Hopefully, these are some clues to look for in those to whom we are trying to minister. But as we look at the lives of others it is important to look at our own lives. Would Paul be encouraged when he looked at our lives? Would he thank God for us as he remembered our "work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope"? May God's Spirit give us great encouragement as It reminds us of the good work that Christ has begun and is perfecting in our lives.