Acts 1:12-26—The Post–Ascension church prays for guidance. The church is living b3etween Jesus’ departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The time has come to fill the vacancy caused by Judas’ suicide. The one to be chosen as a replacement is to be one who shared the experience with Jesus from the time of His baptism to His Ascension and one who can witness to the Resurrection. Two men met the qualifications: Joseph and Matthias. God and not the church elected Matthias. The church merely asked the ascended Lord which of the two He had chosen. After prayer, Matthias was chosen to be one of the Apostles. The church’s leadership ranks were now filled and ready for the Spirit’s coming.
Nothing happens by accident. Peter explained to the 120 followers of Jesus that what happened to Jesus was promised of old in the Scriptures. He sees the betrayal of Jesus and the fate of Judas as having been prophesied by the Holy Spirit through David. For Peter and the others, God is in complete control of their lives and destiny.
God had planned it all, and thus what happened to Jesus had to happen. In today’s world, there is chance, luck and accident. In the Bible, things just do not happen by coincidence. God is in all and over all. 1
A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore You, the work of farmers, grant them seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruit of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving. May we see by this noble vocation that with Your help they feed the world. And cause all those who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with both honor and respect; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 2
Sources:
Image of the Ascension of Christ by Salvador Dail, copyright © Google images
1. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
2. Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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