Hunt or Haunt?

We often use the word “love.” In fact, we probably overuse it. We love our family. We love ice cream (mmmm….ice cream). We love football. We love God. We love time alone.

On and on it goes. We love everything.

Most of the time, though, we are able to distinguish which we love more. We don’t love ice cream as much as our family. We don’t love our car as much as our friends. Though we use the same word to express our feelings, we know where our priorities are and what is “higher” on our list.

Do we love the lost? Where do those who have not obeyed the Gospel “rank” on our love list? We so often say to someone in our neighborhood or to a family member or to a coworker, “I love you,” but we know that person has never been baptized so the blood of Jesus would wash his/her sins away. We know that person is without a hope of heaven, but we say nothing.

It’s time to start hunting! The great news is, we don’t have to hide out or wear camouflage. You know folks who need to hear the truth of the gospel! You just need to bring along your “weapon” (the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God) and let that person really know that you love him/her.

• Maybe it’s the friend from high school with whom you chat on Facebook from time-to-time.
• Maybe it’s the coworker you enjoy lunches with.
• Maybe it’s the friend you go to football games with.
• Maybe it’s your parent.
• Maybe it’s a neighbor with whom you enjoy discussions about politics.

It’s time to change the subject to something far more important! It’s time to hunt.

If not, I hope the words of an old hymn will haunt us until we do:

When in the better land, before the bar we stand;

How deeply grieved our souls will be

If any lost one there should cry in deep despair,

“You never mentioned Him to me.”

Who will you truly love today? What lost person will see that love in an email, note, visit, or call where you finally share Jesus? Who will recieve an invitation to a Bible study or to worship? That’s real love!

[By the way, for me, it was a Facebook message sent early this morning. We’ll see what happens with that, but there are far more who need to see similar messages from me!]