There are people who are especially near and dear to us. While we love our brethren, even love all in the world, there are those for whom we have an affection and concern that is above all others. This is natural and reasonable and expected.

Those who are of our family are usually the closest. This is what every¬ one would generally expect. We have friends that are close to us, but family is automatically close by virtue of the fact they are family. Our wives, husbands, children, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, all take a special place.

But how many of us have those dear relatives who are still out of Christ and therefore are spiritually lost? We can look around us and see families divided over the most important matter of life; namely, our relationship with God. Husbands and wives go different ways. Children are still lost even though they have reached the age when they are knowledgeable and ac¬ countable before God. Here and there, all around, we have those precious loved ones who have not obeyed the gospel, God's power unto salvation.

Dear Christian brother and sister, what are you doing to win the lost soul of those who are dearest to you? What instructions are you giving your children? What example are you setting before your marriage partner? How much do you discuss spiritual matters with them? Should you not be more attentive to them in this matter than you are? Do you think that others can have all of the necessary influence if you do not also try?

It is not uncommon that members of the church are often a hindrance to the efforts of others to win the lost. Sometimes a husband stands between Christ and his wife. She will never be converted to Christ as long as he is relatively indifferent and inattentive to the duties of a child of God. Wives can be hindrances to their husbands in obeying the gospel. Preachers and teachers may try to win the lost, encouraging the young to be saved, but parents erect barriers that others may not even know exist and" the child goes on his way, lost, condemned, unsaved, drifting further from the truth.

If one's son or daughter, husband or wife, father or mother is still lost, should they not make this a prime concern and do something on their behalf before it is too late? Should not some word of encouragement be spoken? Cannot some barrier be removed? Is? there not the need for questions to be asked and answered? What Would you do if your loved one was about to lose his physical life? Would you act? How much more important is the spiritual life of your loved one?

Rather than just hope something, sometime will "get through to them," make it your goal to reach them. You may say you fear "driving them away." Friend, they are already away. If they die that way, and you have not made every effort to lead them aright, will you rest in peace?