The Unity of believers
Acts 1:12-26 (ESV) Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Our scripture tells us that after Judas’ betrayal and subsequent suicide, a replacement had to be named to restore the number of apostles to twelve. It was important that the new apostle had been an eyewitness to the resurrected Jesus and had traveled with them the entire time of Jesus’ ministry. And, both Matthias and Barsabbas were traditionally believed to have been two of the seventy sent by Jesus to witness and prepare His way as he walked from town to town.
While the disciples believed it was important to bring another into their fold, I think the singular most significant aspect of this event was their joining in one accord. Currently our pastors are emphasizing the need to pray for unity in our church, not because there is disunity, but because we are embarking on new missions and nothing restricts our ability to grow God’s kingdom more than disagreements.
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Have you prayed lately for a spirit of harmony within your church? I have to admit I have been lax in such prayers.
May we join together in one accord, knowing and believing that, as James said, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 