What a day, Father! Thank You for getting me to the end of it. May I hear Your voice clearly that Your word may ring clear!
Acts 1:15-26 (<<click here to read the passage)
I read through this passage early this morning – probably around 5:15! – as I was finishing up my bowl of cereal for breakfast. It helps get an overview but as I reread it tonight, other things are standing out. I might write of the one tomorrow but the one I will deal with first has to do with what Peter had to say.
Though the Holy Spirit had yet to come in His full power upon them, He most assuredly had to be working through Peter. Remember, Peter was a simple fisherman. He probably had a remedial amount of training in the synagogue, but he was no scholar. His life’s focus was fishing and all the many things that went with it – when and where to fish, net maintenance, the operation of boats and sails, and how to handle a rudder. Those things were his expertise!
But here he stands in the presence of the 120 gathered there, and he is definitely large and in charge! He steps readily into those areas of responsibility. (Jesus knew what He was doing, didn’t He?)
Peter’s ability in the area of leadership is one thing but his ability to call forth very applicable portions of Scripture, I find utterly amazing! In his reference to what happened to Judas Iscariot and what now needed to be done, blows me away…and it had to be of the Holy Spirit!
He says in verse 21,
“This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’”
He quotes two separate portions of Scripture – both written by David, Jesus’ ancient ancestor – tying them together to do what needed to be done.
The first one is from Psalm 69:25,
Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. NLT
The second is from Psalm 109:8,
Let his years be few; let someone else take his position. NLT
If you’ve ever read through the book of Psalms, you know that it is a large collection of verse. It is one part of the Bible’s Wisdom Literature. There are 150 psalms, some short and some much longer, but that is a lot to wade through and Peter just pulls these two verses seemingly out of the air…and they fit exactly where they are and what they need to do!
They quickly move on from Judas’ death to replacing him, bringing the core back to its original twelve in number. With the Holy Spirit’s direction, Matthias is chosen to fill the slot.
Don’t hesitate in stepping out to do what God has called you to do. He knows what you are capable of, even if you don’t have a clue! And it may be a bit cliché but you plus God is always a majority and there is absolutely nothing, you cannot do with Him by your side. There’s no better place to place your faith!
Dec 14th, 2021, Tues, 8:25 pm
