Chosen

CHOSEN

a prayer to open

Holy Spirit, come. Center my heart.

Fill my mind. Guide my steps.

Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James) . . . all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us. . . . We must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Upon returning to Jerusalem, where they would wait for the Holy Spirit, the eleven apostles gathered with Jesus’ other disciples to wrestle with how to carry out their mission now that they were one apostle short of what Jesus had ordained (twelve, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel). They turned to the Scriptures for guidance, and after reflecting on Psalms 69 and 109, they concluded that they should identify someone to take Judas’s place. Barsabbas and Matthias were nominated, and through the casting of lots, God made it known that Matthias was his choice.

• Read this passage again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Sit quietly, reminding yourself that you are in God’s loving presence, and ask him to show you how that word or phrase connects to your life.
• Has there been a time in your life in which someone else was chosen ahead of you to do a job or fulfill a particular role or purpose? What did it feel like not to be chosen? What have you learned about yourself based on that experience?
• Reflect on the various roles you currently hold: spouse, parent, sibling, child, employee, friend, neighbor. How would you approach each of those roles differently if you considered yourself chosen for them, as opposed to just having fallen into them?

Father, thank you that you have placed me in the world you created and called good. Open the eyes of my heart to see that you have chosen me, by your grace and goodness, to fill the roles in which I find myself in my family, work, church, and community. Help me carry out your will and purpose in each role, whether I find it personally satisfying or not. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to reflect the good you created and are seeking to restore. Amen.