{"id":1228,"date":"2018-09-23T08:53:05","date_gmt":"2018-09-23T16:53:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1228"},"modified":"2018-09-23T08:53:05","modified_gmt":"2018-09-23T16:53:05","slug":"devotion-acts-115-26-the-best-choice-is-received","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1228","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 1:15-26 The Best Choice Is Received"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 1:15-17\u00a0<\/b>\u2013\u00a0\u201cIn those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)\u00a016\u00a0and said, \u201cBrothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled\u00a0in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,\u00a0who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.\u00a017\u00a0He was one of our number\u00a0and shared in our ministry.\u201d\u00a0\u00a018\u00a0(With the payment\u00a0he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;\u00a0there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.<\/span>\u00a019\u00a0Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language\u00a0Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20\u00a0\u201cFor,\u201d said Peter, \u201cit is written in the Book of Psalms: \u201c\u2018May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,\u2019 and, \u201c\u2018May another take his place of leadership.\u2019 21\u00a0Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22\u00a0beginning from John\u2019s baptism\u00a0to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness\u00a0with us of his resurrection.\u201d 23\u00a0So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.<\/span>\u00a024\u00a0Then they prayed,\u00a0\u201cLord, you know everyone\u2019s heart.\u00a0Show us\u00a0which of these two you have chosen<\/span>\u00a025\u00a0to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.\u201d<\/span>\u00a026\u00a0Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at\u00a0Vs 15-17<\/b>\u00a0\u201cIn those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)\u00a016\u00a0and said, \u201cBrothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled\u00a0in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,\u00a0who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.\u00a017\u00a0He was one of our number\u00a0and shared in our ministry.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0 As we have seen the group of about one hundred twenty people had stayed together eagerly anticipating the power from the Holy Spirit that was going to empower them for ministry.\u00a0 They were being obedient and excitedly waiting. As they were waiting Peter stood up to speak to the group.\u00a0 He referred to them as family in Christ, as \u201cadelphos.\u201d\u00a0 The Spirit of God had united them.<\/p>\n

Peter reminded them of a couple verses from Psalms of David that Peter attributed to Judas the betrayer,\u00a0Psalm 41:9<\/b>\u00a0\u201cEven my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0Psalm 109:8b<\/b>\u00a0\u201c\u2026may another take his place of leadership.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Peter says that Judas had been one of them, \u201cnumbered\u201d as one of the twelve and had shared in the ministry of being an apostle.\u00a0 An apostle is one who is \u201csent with orders.\u201d\u00a0 In\u00a0Matthew 10:1-4<\/b>,\u00a0V1<\/b>\u00a0states that Jesus called his \u201ctwelve disciples\u201d to Him.\u00a0 In\u00a0V4<\/b>\u00a0Judas is included as one of Jesus\u2019s apostles.\u00a0 Judas was definitely one of the twelve apostles as Peter states here in\u00a0V17<\/b>. \u00a0Judas was not present when the disciples received the Holy Spirit from Jesus.\u00a0 He had already been possessed by the devil and driven to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-6<\/b>).\u00a0 The Apostle John wrote in\u00a0John 6:70<\/b>\u00a0that Jesus said that He chose Judas to be one of his twelve disciples (Jesus calls them \u201cthe Twelve\u201d).\u00a0 Jesus chose Judas even though He recognized what Jesus would do.\u00a0 Family, Judas had every opportunity to do right.\u00a0 He was a disciple and one elected to be one sent to the world to the spread the Gospel.\u00a0 Judas was offered a very rich blessing and instead chose an evil path.<\/p>\n

\u201c21\u00a0Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22\u00a0beginning from John\u2019s baptism\u00a0to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness\u00a0with us of his resurrection.\u201d 23\u00a0So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.<\/span>\u00a024\u00a0Then they prayed,\u00a0\u201cLord, you know everyone\u2019s heart.\u00a0Show us\u00a0which of these two you have chosen<\/span>\u00a025\u00a0to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.\u201d<\/span>\u00a026\u00a0Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Peter reminded them that the betrayer would be replaced.\u00a0 He decided that they would need to do that.\u00a0 None of the verses that state the betrayer would be replaced state that man would replace him, but in fact David was asking God to act.\u00a0 Although opinions differ, many believe that Peter and the rest jumped the gun by calling for lots to select between two men\u00a0that the disciples had decided<\/i>\u00a0upon to be the replacement for Judas.\u00a0 They decided that they needed to help the process along and Matthias was selected.\u00a0 Does that mean that God chose Matthias?\u00a0 They threw lots, one of the two were going to be selected. \u00a0They did not leave a space for another unknown person to be selected. \u00a0Many people will note that Matthias was not noted again in the Word.\u00a0 However, Jesus Himself did appoint another Apostle (Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1, Acts 9:1-6<\/b>).\u00a0 Now if Peter was correct in pushing the appointment who was Matthias, now that Jesus Himself had added Paul as an Apostle that would mean that there were now thirteen Apostles.\u00a0 However from\u00a0Revelation 21:14<\/b>\u00a0we know that in the end, only twelve are acknowledged.\u00a0 That would mean that either one Apostle lost his place (not stated in the Word), or that either Matthias or Paul were not true Apostles.\u00a0 The Word of God is clear that Paul was a true Apostle who was called and appointed by Jesus and \u201csent\u201d out by Jesus to preach the Gospel.\u00a0 It seems clear that when Matthias was named an Apostle that He was it was not the will of God.<\/p>\n

Some may say \u201cBut the lots were cast and it fell to Matthias.\u00a0 Let\u2019s consider that man (Peter) decided that he and his mates would take it upon themselves to select who was qualified and present them to God.\u00a0 They chose Barsabbas and Matthias.\u00a0 Then they put these two before God and asked Him to choose between these two.\u00a0 Family, haven\u2019t we acted likewise.\u00a0 We think that the proper way to go, the proper job offer to accept, the right person to pursue for marriage, is one or another and we ask God to choose between what we think is best and all the while neither of the options we ask God to choose between are what the Lord knows if best.\u00a0 So then, perhaps, neither of the options we gave to God worked out.\u00a0 We are disappointed.\u00a0 Was it not best to perhaps phrase our prayer more like \u201cLord I am thinking that you are leading me in one of these two ways.\u00a0\u00a0If<\/i>\u00a0one of these is your choice for me, then please let me know which one to choose.\u00a0\u00a0However<\/i>\u00a0if neither of these are your choice for me, then please show me what is your choice.\u00a0 Not my will, but yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is okay to ask God for specific answers, but who are we to limit God to two, or to a thousand choices.\u00a0 We ought to always remember that we are speaking to the only omniscient One, God Himself.\u00a0 We may think we have only one of two ways, but what we think may be wrong.\u00a0 It may be something different from the two.\u00a0 Therefore, we must not limit God by offering to Him the choices we think are best, but rather patiently and persistently press in for what He says is best.\u00a0 One way leads us to an all but forgotten Matthias and the other leads us to a Paul, who God used to write most of the New Testament.<\/p>\n

Peter was right, God was going to replace Judas.\u00a0 He just jumped-the-gun instead of waiting on God.\u00a0 May we not make the same error, though I know I already have done so too many times. Family, let us decide to choose to not limit God with our thoughts, but to always persevere for the will of God for our lives.\u00a0 God\u2019s choice is clearly and utterly superior.\u00a0 God intends to bless us.\u00a0 He is good and He loves us.\u00a0 Let us find the peace and security of His will. Let us wait for it.\u00a0 May we not \u201cjump-the-gun.\u201d\u00a0 Let us walk in His superior will for His life.\u00a0 Praise our God who loves and cares for us!\u00a0 Praise God!\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Psalm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 1:15-17\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u201cIn those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)\u00a016\u00a0and said, \u201cBrothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled\u00a0in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,\u00a0who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.\u00a017\u00a0He was one of our number\u00a0and shared in our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,100,106,101,94,17,711,2505],"class_list":["post-1228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-john","tag-luke","tag-matthew","tag-micah","tag-psalm","tag-revelation","tag-romans-corinthians"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1229,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions\/1229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}