Acts 1:15-26 (NRSV)
Read Acts 1:15-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, Verse 16"Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus- Verse 17for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." Verse 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. Verse 19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) Verse 20"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'Let another take his position of overseer.' Verse 21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Verse 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." Verse 23So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Verse 24Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen Verse 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." Verse 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Devotion
Successions occur on the national stage when a new president of a country begins his/her term of office or a king or queen is crowned. Succession can be an anxious time.
Succession issues also occur in congregations. It is always an anxious time when a pastor resigns or retires. I’ve just been through a succession personally. I retired. It was anxious for me as I thought, “What am I going to do now?” It was anxious for the congregation, which also asked, “What are we going to do now?”
The early disciples faced their first crisis of succession just after the resurrection. Note what they did: They prayed. They chose a field of candidates – Barsabbas and Matthias. Then they cast lots – flipped a coin, you might say – to see which one would serve. And then they waited for God’s will to manifest itself in the candidate. So, too, should we trust the Lord.
Prayer
Lord, guide us in our plans, that we might trust and rely on your grace to guide and sustain us. Amen.