Are You Attractive?

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

What am I asking in today’s title? I assure you, I am not referring to your physical appearance, facial features, or any external beauty. What I am referring to is what is on the inside that others see when it shines through on the outside.

As Christians, we are to be attractive – drawing others to our Lord rather than repelling them. There is nothing more attractive in a fallen, broken, and hurting world than to see fallen, broken, and hurting people, people who have been saved by grace through faith, living grace-filled lives. There is something irresistible about a Christian who is a conduit of the grace of God. The light of God’s grace has been given to us to shine in such a way that others are attracted to it and changed by it.

One of the most important things we can do to be attractive is to demonstrate a heart of hopeful compassion for those who are in darkness – because that is where we once were.

For you once were darkness, but no you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they want to change the world. That’s a great goal . . . when it is done for the glory of God. But changing the world begins and ends by changing one heart at a time. And that change only takes place when the light of the Gospel penetrates the darkness inside of dead hearts, making them alive to Christ.

You and I must always remember that our salvation is not primarily about us; it’s about Jesus Christ and the expansion of His Kingdom. Thank God that someone (or perhaps many someones) in your life thought that way and took the time to share the good news of the Gospel with you. Because they had Jesus in their lives, they were attractive and they attracted you to Jesus.

So let me ask you again: Are you attractive? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” if the way you live your life points others to your Savior. It has always been a source of great encouragement to me that God does not need any of us to expand His Kingdom; rather, He wants us — so much so that He died for us to make us His. The more that truth seizes us, the more our lives will be lived in the service of our Savior, and the more attractive we will become.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!