LIFE SCRIPTS

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 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. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “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.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living 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.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:10‭-‬26 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/act.1.10-26.NIV

Christ’s ascension took the disciples by surprise. They seemed awestruck while gazing into the clouds as Christ ascended into heaven. This happened right until angels appeared to remind them that this same Christ who’s ascended will return back again. How often do we brush aside this reality. Christ will come back however this time to take home His Elect. The disciples departed to Jerusalem where they tarried in prayer in the upper room. Now, Christ had ascended and the ministry was in their hands. The political system was hostile towards them but they still gathered and prayed … 120 of them. A people with a common belief brought together in times of trouble. That’s the importance of fellowship. Peter stood among them to narrate the story of Judas Iscariot. Apparently, with the money he was paid to betray Christ, he ended up buying a field where he hanged himself. Remember when he felt guilty of the act of betrayal, he attempted to return back the money unsuccessfully. Now Judas’ place was to be filled and the disciples chose two men and presented them before God in prayer. They then cast lots to choose between them. But was this the best way to make a choice? Remember they had narrowed down to the two of them through their own ingenuity. But shouldn’t they have presented the whole situation before God and allow Him to choose as He pleases? More often than not do we walk into this trap of enclosing God in a handful of choices. We forget that He can churn out possibilities from impossibilities because He’s God. The same way He later on churned out a bold persecutor of Christians into the apostle Paul.