The Good Seed
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. - 2 Corinthians 2:15
I am convinced that lay men and women need to recapture a biblical view of their role in the kingdom of God. In Matthew 13, Jesus uses a parable about sowing seed to introduce a tremendous concept concerning the kingdom of God. "The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom" (13:38).
Here Jesus points out the magnitude of the job: "The field is the world"--a world of people who need the message of the gospel. And what is the Lord's plan for accomplishing this? Planting good seed that will be fruitful and multiply throughout that needy world.
All too often we see the good seed as those among us with unique gifts and abilities that enable them to fulfill the roles of Bible teachers, seminary professors, missionaries, or pastors. Now, it's a great privilege to pray for full-time Christian workers, support them financially, and encourage them in their work. But that's not all God has called us to do.
Jesus said, "The good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom." Christian, that's not just the people who can sing, preach, and translate the Bible into another language; it's all of us who know Him. We are the good seed of the kingdom He wants to scatter throughout the world to bring the message of salvation to the lost.
Christian, you are important to God, and He has a job for you to do.
Prayer
Lord, as I live and work among people, help me to reproduce the good seed in the world until we crowd out the tares. Amen.
Jesus desires to fulfill His Great Commission through all of us, not just a select few.
Draw Me Nearer
- I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.- Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
- Refrain:
- Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. - Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend! - There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Daily Smile:
What’s the difference between a snowman and a snowoman?
SNOW DIFFERENCE
In The News:
Gay-Marriage Activists Increase Donations, Seeking First Win at Polls
Since 1998, 32 states have held votes on same-sex marriage, and all 32 have opposed it. This year, as four states -- Maryland, Maine, Washington and Minnesota -- have Nov. 6 referendums on the issue, homosexual activists are trying to break the streak, WORLD Magazine reports. The pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign is contributing at least $4.4 million in its effort to influence the vote -- more than twice as much as the $2 million raised and spent by the National Organization for Marriage. In Maine and Washington, gay marriage seems to be leading in the polls; however, polls have been notoriously inaccurate on this issue, and tend to shift in the last few days before an election -- almost always in the direction of traditional marriage.
New York Times Editor Scolds Paper for Burying Libya Scandal
In response to criticism from The New York Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, about the paper's decision not to run its story about the Oct. 10 Libya congressional hearings on the front page, the Times' managing editor and executive editor explained that they didn't see "anything significantly new" in the "politicized" hearings and that's why they tucked coverage inside, Politico.com reports. "I can't think of many journalistic subjects that are more important right now, or more deserving of aggressive reporting," Sullivan wrote on the Times website, adding that readers wrote to her "in dismay" about the apparent downplaying. The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal both gave the hearings prominent position above the fold on their front pages, while the Times put its story on page A3 and placed stories about Lance Armstrong and other topics on the front page.
University Draws Fire After Placing Official on Leave for Signing Marriage Petition
A federally chartered university's decision to place its chief diversity officer on paid leave over her support for a referendum challenging Maryland's same-sex marriage law is drawing fire, the Christian Post reports. Conservative and LGBT groups alike have denounced Gallaudet University's decision to suspend Dr. Angela McCaskill after signing the marriage referendum petition. "Quite simply, it was well within her rights to sign the petition," said Derek McCoy, chairman of the Maryland Marriage Alliance. Josh Levin of Marylanders for Marriage Equality also commented: "We strongly disagree with the decision to put the chief diversity officer on leave and hope she is reinstated immediately. Everyone is entitled to free speech and their own opinion about Question 6." After Maryland became the eighth state to legalize gay marriage, traditional marriage supporters collected signatures to place the new law on the November ballot to allow voters to decide on the issue of marriage. McCaskill signed the petition in July while at church, but a Gallaudet faculty member, who remains anonymous, recently discovered her name on the petition and filed a complaint with the university. The university then announced last Wednesday that McCaskill would be placed on administrative leave effective immediately while "the appropriate next steps" were determined.
Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban Treated in the UK
A 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban has arrived in the United Kingdom for medical treatment, CBN News reports. Gunmen shot Malala Yousafzai, a blogger and activist who spoke out for women's education, along with two classmates as they came home from school last week. She remains in critical condition, and her skull and neck wounds along with the shock of the attack are serious enough that authorities decided on a prolonged stay out of the country. The Taliban has also threatened to finish their job and kill her. Meanwhile, some 10,000 demonstrators gathered in Pakistan's largest city to protest the shooting and the Taliban.
Since 1998, 32 states have held votes on same-sex marriage, and all 32 have opposed it. This year, as four states -- Maryland, Maine, Washington and Minnesota -- have Nov. 6 referendums on the issue, homosexual activists are trying to break the streak, WORLD Magazine reports. The pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign is contributing at least $4.4 million in its effort to influence the vote -- more than twice as much as the $2 million raised and spent by the National Organization for Marriage. In Maine and Washington, gay marriage seems to be leading in the polls; however, polls have been notoriously inaccurate on this issue, and tend to shift in the last few days before an election -- almost always in the direction of traditional marriage.
New York Times Editor Scolds Paper for Burying Libya Scandal
In response to criticism from The New York Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, about the paper's decision not to run its story about the Oct. 10 Libya congressional hearings on the front page, the Times' managing editor and executive editor explained that they didn't see "anything significantly new" in the "politicized" hearings and that's why they tucked coverage inside, Politico.com reports. "I can't think of many journalistic subjects that are more important right now, or more deserving of aggressive reporting," Sullivan wrote on the Times website, adding that readers wrote to her "in dismay" about the apparent downplaying. The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal both gave the hearings prominent position above the fold on their front pages, while the Times put its story on page A3 and placed stories about Lance Armstrong and other topics on the front page.
University Draws Fire After Placing Official on Leave for Signing Marriage Petition
A federally chartered university's decision to place its chief diversity officer on paid leave over her support for a referendum challenging Maryland's same-sex marriage law is drawing fire, the Christian Post reports. Conservative and LGBT groups alike have denounced Gallaudet University's decision to suspend Dr. Angela McCaskill after signing the marriage referendum petition. "Quite simply, it was well within her rights to sign the petition," said Derek McCoy, chairman of the Maryland Marriage Alliance. Josh Levin of Marylanders for Marriage Equality also commented: "We strongly disagree with the decision to put the chief diversity officer on leave and hope she is reinstated immediately. Everyone is entitled to free speech and their own opinion about Question 6." After Maryland became the eighth state to legalize gay marriage, traditional marriage supporters collected signatures to place the new law on the November ballot to allow voters to decide on the issue of marriage. McCaskill signed the petition in July while at church, but a Gallaudet faculty member, who remains anonymous, recently discovered her name on the petition and filed a complaint with the university. The university then announced last Wednesday that McCaskill would be placed on administrative leave effective immediately while "the appropriate next steps" were determined.
Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban Treated in the UK
A 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban has arrived in the United Kingdom for medical treatment, CBN News reports. Gunmen shot Malala Yousafzai, a blogger and activist who spoke out for women's education, along with two classmates as they came home from school last week. She remains in critical condition, and her skull and neck wounds along with the shock of the attack are serious enough that authorities decided on a prolonged stay out of the country. The Taliban has also threatened to finish their job and kill her. Meanwhile, some 10,000 demonstrators gathered in Pakistan's largest city to protest the shooting and the Taliban.
Don't Forget To Vote On
Tuesday, November 6th
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