“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘May another take his [Judas’] place of leadership.’ Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so, he was added to the eleven apostles.”(Acts 1:20–22, 26, NIV 1984).
The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man [Saul/Paul]is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:15–16, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “‘It is necessary to one of the men who have been with us the whole time,‘…and the lot fell to Matthias.” Sounds reasonable. But he is not mentioned again in Acts or any of the other books of the New Testament. No knock on Matthias. Clearly a faithful follower “beginning from John’s baptism.” But Jesus said, “[Saul/Paul] is my chosen instrument.” And, of course, the better part of Acts and the rest of the New Testament are about or penned by him. A man who previously was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” (Acts 9:1, NIV 1984). A man who himself said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15, NIV 1984).
My Advice – Do you see others as more qualified than yourself? They probably are. Do you see yourself as wholly unworthy? Who could be more so than Paul. “But God [chooses] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God [chooses] the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He [chooses] the lowly things of this world and the despised things.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–28, NIV 1984). And so, “the lot [falls] to [you and me].” Like it or not, we are also His “chosen instrument.” Let’s not disappoint Him.
The Brew Is A Musing 