Seeking God's Guidance

Acts 1:15-26

At one time or another in our lives we are likely going to have to make some important decisions.  We have to decide which university to attend, or what job to apply for. We have to make decisions about who to marry or not marry, about where to live, etc.  How do we go about making these decisions? Many people make a list of pros and cons. Often we ask others’ advice and thoughts on the matter. As we open the Book of Acts today we have the disciples gathered together, and preparing to make an important decision.

Several verses earlier Jesus had ascended into heaven, and His parting words to the disciples were that they wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. As they gathered together, praying and waiting, the original chosen apostles must have noticed a glaring absence. Jesus had chosen twelve of them. Now there was eleven. Judas Iscariot had turned traitor and defected, betraying Jesus the Savior to the Jewish leaders. Peter saw this as a fulfillment of prophecy (vs. 16-20), and he knew that another man was to be selected to take the vacant spot left by the traitor, Judas.

This was an important decision, and the eleven didn’t want to pick just anyone to fill this significant spot.  There were two important criteria that any candidate for the office had to fulfill. One was that whoever was selected had to have been with the group since the very start.  The other was that he had to have witnessed the resurrection and seen the risen Savior (vs. 21-22).

How did they go about selecting from the candidates?  The most important thing they did was to pray for God’s guidance (vs 24-25). That is something we all should do before any important decisions. Prior to Pentecost the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell the believers.  Just as was often done in the Old Testament, in order to know God’s direction, they cast lots, which instructed them to choose Matthias (vs. 26). Today we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, and when we earnestly pray, we can have His direction.  After this occurrence there is no more mention of casting of lots in Scripture. We have God’s guidance and leading available for any decisions we need to make, and should always pray for His help.

What went wrong with Judas?  He was with the other apostles, sitting with Jesus, hearing the same words, the same lessons.  Judas never applied the messages he heard to his own heart and life. He was never saved. He had never really repented.  When Judas heard the Lord’s own words and did not accept them, he left his heart opened to Satan to move in and do his evil work. Judas rejected Jesus’s mercy too many times, and finally he took his own life. Matthew’s Gospel says Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:5).  This seeming contradiction with verse 18 can be explained in that the hanging rope or the tree branch broke after Judas hung himself, and that his dead, partially decomposing body fell on the rocks below, bursting open.

There are some who go to church every week, sing in the choir, or serve on church committees, and are not saved.  They hear the Gospel every week, but their ears and heart are closed. There are those each week who play at being Christian, just as Judas played at being a disciple.  They aren’t easy to detect, just as Judas wasn’t. We need to pray they turn from their ways before it’s too late, like it became for Judas.

Prayer is the lesson here.  Fervent prayer for God’s guidance and leading in making serious decisions.  Also prayer for those who masquerade as Christians, but who are fooling both others and themselves.