When Making Tough Decisions

Today’s passage is Acts 1:12-26.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 1:12-14 (NIV)
¹²  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
¹³  When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
¹⁴  They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

On verses 12-14:  After spending time with the resurrected Jesus and witnessing His ascension into heaven, the disciples, including Jesus’ female followers, Jesus’ mother Mary and Jesus’ brothers, would return to the place where they were staying and join together constantly in prayer.  It was their closest, most natural and most direct way of keeping in contact with their Lord Jesus.  They would pray together, knowing that Jesus heard them.  It was all coming together for them that Jesus truly is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God.  What can we learn from this?

1.     According to Mark 6:3, while Jesus lived on this earth Jesus had four brothers called James, Joseph, Judas and Simon.  They were his half-brothers in that they were the natural sons of Jesus’ parents Joseph and Mary.  These brothers did not believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be: the Son of God.  That is, until the resurrection.  Jesus’ resurrection was that pivotal moment when his half-brothers who doubted Him started to believe in Him.  James would even become the leader of the church in Jerusalem.   Again, if you want to know if Christianity is valid and worth believing in, start with the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.

2.     For the early church, prayer was a major priority.  It’s how they kept in contact with their Lord Jesus.  Today, you and I have the same access to our Lord Jesus through prayer.  Wherever you are, you get to pray to the Lord Jesus, knowing that He loves you and that He hears your prayers.  Don’t take the privilege of prayer for granted.  Make prayer your priority.  Join with other Christians in prayer.  It’s one of the most powerful things you can do.  When making tough decisions, don’t downplay the importance of prayer.  

Acts 1:15-17 (NIV)
¹⁵  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
¹⁶  and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus–
¹⁷  he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

On verses 15-17:  Notice how Peter viewed the Psalms.  Peter saw that although David was the one who wrote Psalm 69 and 109 which he will later quote in verse 20, Peter believed it was the Holy Spirit who was speaking through David’s writing.  For Jesus, Jesus’ disciples and the early church, the entire Old Testament was Scripture, the word of God to them.  Peter was trying to use the Scriptures as a guide for what they should do.  He even saw the Psalms as speaking prophetically about what would happen with Judas.  One might argue that Peter was “proof texting”, using verses from Scripture to justify a position without having enough regard for the verses’ context, and that this is because Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit.  According to this argument, Peter might have been jumping the gun like he famously did on other previous occasions in the gospels.  Alternatively, you could argue that even at this time the Holy Spirit was already giving Peter new and valuable insight into the Scriptures.  Whether Peter was jumping the gun and proof texting, or Peter was inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach the conclusions that he did, what is commendable about Peter here is that Peter was looking to Scripture for guidance on what to do.

What can we learn from this?  Like Peter, when making tough decisions or facing uncertain situations, look to the Scriptures for wisdom and guidance on what to do.  Try to get a sense of what the Holy Spirit is doing and how the Holy Spirit is leading.

Acts 1:18-19 (NIV)
¹⁸  (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
¹⁹  Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

On verses 18-19:  Doesn’t this account of Judas’ death contradict Matthew 27:5 where it says that Judas hanged himself?  Not necessarily.  One possible explanation is that the blood money Judas received for betraying Jesus was used to buy a field, Judas hanged himself, and his body dropped and burst open over that field.

Acts 1:20-26 (NIV)
²⁰  “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
²¹  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,
²²  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.”
²³  So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
²⁴  Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
²⁵  to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
²⁶  Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

On verses 20-26:  Here Peter initiates a process for choosing someone to take Judas’ place as the twelfth apostle.  The early church proposes two men who had been with them ever since Jesus was baptized by John until Jesus ascended to heaven.  Then, as a way to let their decision not be influenced by their own personal preferences, they cast lots and chose Matthias, believing that God was behind that choice.

We never hear of Matthias specifically after this.  At least as told in Acts, God would end up using other believers much more prominently as witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, such as Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Stephen and others.  You might even argue that, having not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit (Pentecost was just a few days away), Peter and the early church were jumping the gun and making a decision prematurely or unnecessarily to find a replacement for Judas.  Or, alternatively, you could argue that the choosing of Matthias was not only necessary but something that God was behind, that twelve was the number of disciples Jesus had originally chosen, the number of apostles God wanted, and a number that carries significance in the Bible, symbolizing completion.

Either way, whether you think the church’s appointment of Matthias as the twelfth apostle was necessary or not, what can we learn from this?  What is commendable about Peter and the early church here is that they did their best to filter their options carefully, but in the end they tried to leave the final decision in the Lord Jesus’ hands.  They said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.  Show us…” (v24)  Like the early church, when making tough decisions, filter your options thoughtfully and carefully, and trust that God is ultimately in control of the process.

Lord Jesus, thank You that when making tough decisions, I have You and the Scriptures to go to for guidance.  While I will carefully and thoughtfully consider what to do, thank You that in the end You are in control and You will lead the way.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!