Letting God's Spirit Guide Decisions

One of the readings this week is in the first chapter of the book of Acts, verses 15-26. It is the post-resurrection account of the eleven apostles filling the space left by Judas, whose grief and shame drove him to end his life. 

In this passage of Acts, the gospel writer Luke relates how the remaining apostles went about prayerfully filling a necessary position, and how they were led by God's Holy Spirit in doing so. I always find it funny that they prayed about the decision then used a common means of the day for discerning God's will. What did they do, you ask? They cast lots. They threw dice, drew straws, played a harried round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Essentially, they flipped a coin. Who knew that a coin toss could be considered a religious ritual?! 

Here's a little note of note: Matthias is never mentioned again in the accounts of the spreading of the gospel of the early Christ-followers. God's Spirit was getting another unlikely servant ready. My attention is drawn to the efforts of God's people and the ways that we try to make a decision, even by arbitrary means, only to recognize later on, in a faithful look backward, that it was not our efforts at all that helped open up the kingdom/reign/kin-dom of God. Read this first chapter of Acts and see if you can identify the Apostle God chose. Then let's gather together in worship to share where all WE have found God's Spirit to be at work!         
 
See you in church,
Pastor Chuck