Making the Gospel Attractive

By Danny Saavedra

“Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs."—Daniel 1:9 (KJV)

When you honor God without compromise, you can make a huge difference in the lives of people all around you. Now, I know this may seem impossible in our world today where we’re being told what the Bible says is outdated and irrelevant, where what’s really wrong is considered right, and what’s really right is considered wrong, narrow-minded, and disregarded, but there is something truly irresistible and attractive about a life conformed to the image of Christ.

Look at Joseph. He honored the Lord and lived without compromise, and he gained favor, respect, and affection in the eyes of non-believers in Egypt in Potiphar’s house, in prison, and eventually with Pharaoh. Look at Daniel. As a young servant (more accurately a captive slave), Daniel was able to earn the respect, admiration, and affection of the chief of staff, the authority over him. The Bible actually says that God brought him favor and tender love with the administrator. 

Theologian Joseph Benson explains that tender love “is a very strong expression and denotes a kind of parental compassion, like that of St. Paul in his epistle to Philemon.” Essentially, the chief of staff grew to see Daniel as a son. Why? Because he could see and experience the presence of God Almighty through Daniel!

In Titus 2, the apostle Paul lays out the practical aspects of healthy Christian living for the everyday life of a believer in various stages and ages. Let’s look closely at verses 5, 8, and 10 (NIV) where he says, “so that no one will malign the word of God,” “so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say,” and “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” 

This is so important, friends. I want you to see that true gospel living, a life that honors God without compromise, not only brings spiritual benefits and blessings for you, but it also enables you to be a faithful witness and effective ambassador of Jesus Christ to the watching world—making the gospel attractive. That means that even if someone isn’t a believer, God can use your life to deeply impact them as you demonstrate integrity, respect, compassion, and hard work, as you walk in the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control), produce good fruit, and shine the light of Jesus. Your life can be the catalyst God uses to bring the light of Jesus into the lives of the people around you, to make the love of God through Christ visible to them, to make the power of the gospel clearly known to them.

DIG: Why do you think Daniel and Joseph were able to have such a deep impact on the people around them?

DISCOVER: How have you seen this to be true in your life?  

DO: Today, commit to living like Joseph and Daniel; commit to honoring the Lord Jesus without compromise and let Him work in the hearts of the people you encounter!