In ancient days, several stones or perhaps precious gems called lots would have been cast or thrown from a clay jug to make important decisions. The casting of lots was a custom or rite used then to make important decisions, much as we practice drawing straws or flipping a coin today. Several examples of this practice occur in both the Old and New testaments. In the Old Testament, lots were cast by the high priest to select the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8‐10). This method was also used to divide the land of Canaan after its conquest under Joshua (Numbers 26:55-56; Joshua 14:2). Lots were further cast to select warriors to fight against the men of Gibeah (Judges 20:9-10) and apparently to choose Saul as the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:19-21). In addition, sailors on the ship bound for Tarshish, with Jonah on board, used lots to determine who had caused the stormy seas. In Jonah’s case, lots were used to narrow down who was responsible for the storm. “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah” (Jonah 1:7). It was heathens who were casting the lots, but the indication is that God used the occasion to manipulate the results to show that Jonah was the cause. Thus, God did so because it furthered His purpose. In the New

Imagine for a moment that your life is represented by a circle. Inside that circle, in the very center, is a throne. On that throne sits, by your choosing, the ruling influence in your life. Who is sitting on the throne of your heart? Some put their enemies on the throne of their hearts. These people allow their enemies to consume their lives because hate for their enemies controls their thoughts, their actions and their attitudes. Some put their friends on the throne of their hearts. Many allow their friends to dictate what they wear, what they say, what they do, even what they believe about God. Friends can be a blessing or they can be a curse. In the Bible, we read about Amnon who had the wrong kind of friends (2 Samuel 13). Even in the New Testament, we are warned, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Most people, though, put self on the throne of their hearts. They say, “What’s in it for me?” and that becomes the determining factor in the lives of those who are dominated by self. If we will stop and think, however, the most miserable person and the most selfish person are one and the same! Thus, we should put Christ on the throne of our hearts. If we want to experience an abundant life now (John 10:10) and an eternal life in heaven (Romans 6:23), we must allow Christ to rule our lives! Christ is Lord (Acts 2:36). The word “Lord”