Loaded

Hunters are an interesting breed; can never quite figure them.  Seriously, what pushes them to get out of bed before daybreak, brave frigid temperatures, shimmy up trees [sometimes skinnier than they are] or trudge through swamp sludge, shoot at wildlife, then come home and boast about the good time?  Fuzzy math to me!

 

Mr. Bill tells of one of his most famous duck hunts.  He and a buddy did the crawl-outta-bed-frigid-weather-swamp-sludge-trudge-thing.  They were on different sides of the swamp but within sight of one another; the ducks came, Bill “dropped” two, his buddy took aim but never fired.  Mr. Bill described it as what duck hunters dream about and drool over!  Seems there was a good reason his buddy never shot -- he forgot to load his gun!  As ill-equipped and unprepared as this hunter was, so are Believers when we foolishly think we can live victoriously apart from Christ!  Oh, my!  Don’t we know how much He longs for time with us so He can impart His wisdom and understanding!  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Truth is, we’re no match for Satan when we advance unequipped into battle!  Just like hunting with an unloaded gun proved ineffective, so is facing the enemy with spiritually empty tanks.  Don’t try it!  Get alone today (ever day) with The Father, anticipate the wonderful things He shows us then … live life loaded!