Cast Lots - John 19:23-24

John 19:23-24 ESV

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,

so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,

and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things,

Four soldiers kneel at the feet of Jesus as He hangs from the cross. They are intent on the clothing taken from Jesus, including on taking it for themselves, which is ironic when one considers that Jesus came to clothe any who ask in robes of His righteousness. 

If they had only looked up to Jesus, they might have glimpsed something of God Almighty in the awesome act of sacrificing Himself for the salvation of the world. Instead they act as any beast of the field, oblivious to the Creator of the field. 

They gamble for His clothing while He takes the chance of winning a soul that responds to love. The one responding to His love takes no chance with the salvation of Jesus Christ. 

Casting our lot with Jesus, we each will receive a new robe of His purity and righteousness all our own. Don't gamble for anything less. 

A Book - Revelation 1:11

Revelation 1:11 ESV 

saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

What John sees next are the churches that represents the Church, also known as the body of Christ. Seven letters are written for instruction to the Church which remains today. They are for each person that is able to "hear" the warnings and encouragement of Jesus Christ. 

Notice they are to be combined into a single book to be sent to all the churches. It is a message for the churches, or assemblies, of the body of Christ. This message does not apply to Israel or the rest of the earth dwellers who are unable to understand what is being said. They cannot "hear" what these words contain because it is the word of Christ. 

Blessed - Revelation 1:1-3

Revelation 1:1-3 ESV 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Who are the servants of God? Might there be a distinction between the sons of God and the servants of God?

The letters to the churches serve as a message to the Church, the body of Christ. We certainly serve God, but as true worshippers and it is in the Spirit we become the temple of God. 

The inheritance of Israel is the promised land. God is the inheritance of the body of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit brings the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ to the Church. He gives witness and the peace of God within the hearts of all those who believe. 

As we speak the word of God and keep it, we are blessed. 

There He Remained - John 10:40-42

John 10:40-42 ESV 

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”

And many believed in him there.

Jesus leaves Jerusalem and returns to the water of His baptism. That is where He is today. He meets us away from temple of the world beside the water of repentance. It is there we are able to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

And many believed in him there. 

You Know - John 14:6-7

John 14:6-7 ESV 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

If you have Jesus, you know the truth. If you have the Holy Spirit, you have the truth. If you have the truth, you know the Father and Son. 

"From now on you know him..."

Merely Human - 1 Corinthians 3:4

1 Corinthians 3:4 ESV 

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

We are all called by Christ to follow Him. This should be the desire and focus of everyone in the body of Christ. 

To do otherwise reveals the thoughts of a natural man. 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 Each One's Work

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ESV 

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—

each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Paul presents a foundation for our life, which is Jesus Christ. The foundation is the same for everyone, just as He is the vine of life. 

Each person will be judged according to the life lived and the fruit born by that branch. The good news is we won't be judged by the actions of another. The bad news could be the same news. There will be no one else to blame. 

We stand with the Lord, but we also stand before the Lord. We will face the refining fire of His gaze. Nothing will remain except the fruit of His Spirit. 

Even if everything is burned up, that person will pass through the fire, for the Lord will finish the work He has begun. Everyone who places their faith in God's Son and perseveres in that faith will be saved.

We will regret showing up empty handed.