How can I be silent?

Every day, I probably pass by hundreds of people.

Hundreds of souls.

How many of those are saved?  How many know God?

How many are lost, and live empty lives?

Do I really care?

These people that I see everyday are important.  Everyone I meet today is special to God.  How can I ignore one of God's precious children?  He loves them and cares about every little thing going on in their lives.  How can I not care about someone's life?  They are each important.

Life-and-death important.

What makes the difference?  It all comes down to love.

"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
 
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love." (1 Cor. 13:1-7, The Message)

This chapter is one that we hear a lot.  Many can probably quote it without thinking.  Seeing it this way, though, makes it fresh and new and real.  Without love we are bankrupt!  We can't advance God's kingdom without love.  We are hypocrites without love.  We refuse to share what God has given us.  We have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power.

People aren't being reached if we don't love.

Souls are going to hell because we don't love.

Eternally.

Separated from God, the only source of all that is good in our world.

Refusal to love is inexcusable.

I have no excuse to be antisocial.  Every soul is more important than almost any reason I have to ignore people.  So look them in the eye.  Smile.  Talk to them.  Show sympathy.  Listen.  Show them God's love.

Then even if you are never able to physically tell them about Christ, your life has been a witness.  You have not stood by and watched a soul go to hell because you did nothing.  God will use you, in ways you may never know.  Just let Him.

Love.

Rebecca