Proverbs 16:33 & 17:1 

³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. ¹Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

Tomorrow

         The decision we make today will determine our destiny tomorrow. Whether we eat so much or eat little, the amount of food we decide to consume today will affect our health somehow. If we decide to enjoy eating so much cakes today, how would it affect our physical body?

         If we to sleep late at night, our mood will be affected the following day. Every decision we make will contribute to overall situation we will have in the future. We decide to save money for future purpose. We decide to read our Bible to learn more about how we can trust the Lord even more.

         That’s right! As we explore life expectations on earth, every decision we make should be related to our eternal residency. How should we decide so that our adventure in life will testify that we are citizens of heaven?

         How should we explain to children what it declares in Psalm 111:10?

          ¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his   precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

         The fear of the Lord relates to being afraid of separation from God.

         The first time children go to school, they cry. They are afraid of being separated from their parents. They feel secured when their parents stay by their side. As children of God, we also feel secured to be with God always.

         When we are totally dependent on the Lord, wisdom activates. We do the best we can to follow God, just to be with him. So, how does wisdom functions when we obey God? The Lord himself guides us to perform and inspires us to explore the best adventure he designed for our betterment.

         Then we testify of our experience with the Lord’s guidance.

How do we decide when there are many choices? Before we chose our current home, there were other houses to choose from. So, I wrote down on paper all the houses that attracted me. I casted lots for decision. I also casted lot how much I should offer. The result helped me decided.

         Casting lots is biblical way to decide. If you have doubts, then, pray for increase of faith until you sense peace in your heart. Peace is a sign of trust that the Lord ordained for your betterment the result of casting lots.

1. Cast

            ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

         If the Lord ordained our decision, we sense peaceful joy in our heart.

Casting lot can be useful, if there are many good choices but you only need the best one. But before you cast lots, you have to be prayerful until you sense in your heart the confidence that the result of casting lot is ordained by God. It requires thorough evaluation of the matter to decide on the best among many choices. Let’s reflect on what it narrated in Acts 1:21-26.

         ²¹It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²²beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” ²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

            ²⁴Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

         They decided who should replace Judas Iscariot. Barsabbas and Matthias were highly regarded as best candidate to be added as apostle. “Did the Lord sanction the election of Matthias?” Scholars and theologians agree and suggest that Paul was Christ’s chosen Apostle to replace Judas.

         Similarly, election of church leaders has been practiced in most if not all congregational churches. It is undeniable that many church leaders were chosen out of popularity while others may tentatively accept their election. Election of church leaders should exhibit Christ as the head of the church.

         We trust that God established all authorities. The Lord sustains the person he called to leadership ministry. He allows discouragement, despair, or depression to overwhelm the one who is not. The name of Matthias was never mentioned again in the Bible after he was elected. But Apostle Paul, persevered with gladness despite persecution because Jesus chose him.

We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:10, ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Lord knows what is best for his people. We should fervently pray that God may give us right decision to elect leaders whom he had chosen. May it be election of church leaders or leaders of our nation, we should be prayerful always to identify the person that the Lord wants as our leader.

2.  Choose

   ¹Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

         Most often, we reserve special occasions for feasting. Even poor people would like to celebrate, somehow. Feasting on so much food could be proof of abundance but not necessarily better life. How many rich people do you know who have the best ideal life you wish to have?

         You may want their wealth but not their situation. Surely, we prefer to be satisfied and sing praises to the Lord. But feasting cannot guarantee better circumstance. Together let’s reflect on the narrative in Esther 1:8-12, ⁸By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. ⁹Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. ¹⁰On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas —¹¹to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. ¹²But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

         The story narrated that Queen Vashti was demoted, and Esther was promoted as queen. There are a number of feasting stories that have tragic end. Feasting is a practical example of human’s desire for satisfaction. It is has been proven that feasting cannot stop human’s craving for more.

         Have you ever wondered about feasting in heaven? Together, let us reflect on what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 8:11, ¹¹I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

         Would you be invited in the heavenly feast? Will you be sitting near the table of the Lord or at the very far end? Your spending habit could be a manifestation of your eternal status. How do you spend your time and money? Do you spend time storing up treasure in heaven for yourself?

         Do you spend your money to satisfy your craving or social status? How much do you spend for eternal purposes? It’s your money. It’s your time. It’s your decision. But as citizens of heaven, we should be more concerned of our eternal status as children of God and citizens of heaven.

Be prayerful to have full assurance and firm confidence that you are invited in the heavenly feasting. Glory to God forever, amen!

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