My Smokin' Hot Wife

I have a very attractive wife. I often get the look that says, “How did you get her?” when I introduce Lauren as my wife.

However, I didn’t develop feelings for her when she became beautiful. Lauren and I have known each other since we were in Kid’s Choir together, and I began pursuing her during our awkward Junior High years. As we grew in our friendship, I realized that she was exactly the type of person I wanted to marry. Lauren has a very sweet, soft temperament, she stands firm on her convictions, and she cares deeply for those closest to her. While I think Lauren is the most attractive girl I have ever seen, her beauty is not what primarily attracts me to her, but neither is it the wonderful attributes I just mentioned.

What if it was her beauty that primarily attracted me to her? If ultimately I am attracted to Lauren mainly for her physical beauty, our marriage will collapse when we age. If my attraction is mainly for the things she does, our marriage will collapse when she doesn’t hold up “her end.” Even if my attraction to her is based on her relationship with Jesus then our relationship will collapse when she goes through a storm and needs to lean on me. Whatever attracts me to her is ultimately the thing in our relationship that I worship and forces me to become an idolater. Furthermore, I would argue that if my attraction is primarily based on any one of those things then truly it is not Lauren that I love but things of her. The only hope for our marriage is that my attraction to Lauren is based on my love for Christ. God has brought Lauren into my life not for my happiness but for my holiness. God is using my relationship with Lauren to draw me to Himself.

God has brought Lauren into my life not for my happiness but for my holiness.

What is it that draws us to Jesus? If the main thing that attracts us to Jesus is the physical beauty of the church, when the building is “old news,” our relationship with Jesus will collapse. If it is the things that Jesus does for us, then when Jesus doesn’t hold up “his end,” our relationship with him will collapse. If the relationships we have with Christians are the primary attraction we have to Jesus, our relationship with Jesus will collapse when those friendships struggle. I would argue if our attraction is based on any one of those things then truly it is not Jesus that we worship, but the things of Jesus. The only hope for us is to worship Jesus and not the church. Likewise, the only hope for us to have an attractive church is to have a church based on the love of Christ primarily.

The thing that draws people to church will ultimately be the thing they worship.

If it be the physical beauty, that will be their god. If it be the gifts from Christ, that will be their god. If it be the relationships, that will be their god. However, if we as church members are transformed by the Gospel that will draw others to our fellowship. We must have the prize be to worship Christ, proclaim the Gospel, and ourselves be transformed by the mercies of God.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2