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.
.
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.
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.
.
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.
Acts 1:1-5 The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:6-11 The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
It has been some time since I studied the Acts of the Apostles, Luke’s second letter to his friend Theophilus. Written around 62 AD, Luke records the history of the early church. The book of Acts is invaluable in documenting the establishment, growth, and persecution of Christianity in the first century.
Luke also introduces us to a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit rested upon individuals to accomplish God’s purpose. However, following Pentecost, the Holy Spirit inhabited the hearts of all believers and nothing has ever been the same.
While Luke never met Jesus, he became a faithful friend to Paul and not only accompanied him on his second missionary journey, but was with him near the end of his life.
As we delve into this book, let us look with eager anticipation into the inspiration we can receive from these early Christians and the way Christianity spread across the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
And I find myself wondering would I have been one of those who lingered in Jerusalem, waiting for the promise to come? Or would my impatience and fear propel me from the very place where the power of God would be made manifest in my life?
May we get the most from these scriptures as we we walk with Jesus day by day.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Deliver Me
Psalms 26:8-12 8 LORD, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the LORD.
In today’s scripture, the psalmist has several declarations as he approaches God in prayer. Beginning with adoration, he expresses his love for the Father’s house. Oh, how I identify!
I love, love, love being in God’s house with God’s people. There is both a calm and an anticipation as I walk through the doors, always held open for me. Why do I love it so? Because I know I will receive a blessing and perhaps be a blessing in return. And I expect to encounter God’s presence. Why wouldn’t I rather be in church than any other place?
When the psalmist says he leads a blameless life, we should not mistake “blameless” for “sinless.” Instead, consider that he means he associates with like minded people who really strive to find and do good.
His feet stand on solid ground—not in the pit nor even the mountaintop. God steadies him and goes before him. Isn’t God good?
May we today recognize the goodness of God, and may we, like the psalmist, seek always to remain in His presence.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Steadfast Love
Psalms 25:1-11 Psalm 25
Of David.
1 In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Why do we cherish the Psalms? I think for me it is not only that I often see myself in these writings, but more importantly, I see God. I see God’s amazing love, His faithfulness and His mercy.
And I see that despite my humanity, He loves me and wants only the best for me.
David was certainly not sin free, but he knew where to go when in trouble, whether from his own choices or from those bent on his destruction. So, he says show me, teach me, guide me. David’s relationship with God is not passive, nor is God unreachable.
And our relationship with God does not have to be intermittent, only reaching out to Him when we are desperate for deliverance. It is that daily walk with God that steadies us, that keeps us in kinship with our Creator, our Father, our Savior.
May we, like David, turn to the One, True and Living God not just in times of trouble but perhaps just to say “Good morning, Lord.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 