Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube version with images and lyrics from Jason Gray singing … Glow In The Dark … poignantly singing of how we as Christ’s disciples are called to glow His glory in the midst of the darkness of this world.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Acts 1:26 [NLT] … 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
… To choose Judas’ replacement, lots were cast and Matthias was chosen over another named Joseph.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 1:12-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… A group of disciples gathered in Jerusalem after the ascension of Jesus and realized that Judas Iscariot must be replaced to maintain the inner 12 group of chosen disciples.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… As disciples of Christ, we’ve been called and chosen to go forth in His Name and for His glory … ALWAYS!!
Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. …”
… Jesus charges all of HIS disciples to follow Him.
Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
… Jesus charges all of HIS disciples to ALWAYS be His witnesses.
Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 10:31 [NLT] … 31 So whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER YOU DO, do it all for the glory of God.
… Whatever we do in life should be done for the glory of God.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mike Wittmer, uses a NT biblical example of being chosen (or not) to go forth for God’s glory. The ODB author wrote … Poor Joseph. He was passed over by God, and he knew why. Joseph was one of two men in the running to replace Judas. The disciples prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen” (Acts 1:24). God chose the other guy. Then He announced His decision to the group, when “the lot fell to Matthias” (v. 26).
As the disciples congratulated Matthias, I wonder about Joseph. How did he handle his rejection? Did he feel jilted, wallow in self-pity, and distance himself from the others? Or did he trust God and cheerfully remain in a supportive role?
Interesting questions for us, aren’t they? But really, I think they were answered in the New Testament stories of how the disciples (all of them, not just the 12) went forth to fulfill Christ’s call to discipleship (see Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23, and Acts 1:8). And those Scriptures call us too, don’t they? And no matter what we’re called to do in life or what we face, we are Christ’s called ones; and as Paul declared, we are to do whatever we do in Christ’s name and for His glory (see 1Cor. 10:31).
So, the lots cast by our circumstances in life today may lead us to feel like we are chosen to act for God, as sung by Jason Gray in the linked song; … or maybe not! … But even if we feel challenged by cruel fate, … no matter what may be our lot, … we must move forward to do all we can to “glow in the dark” and give God all the glory.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for calling us to follow You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me and do all we can to deal with our crosses in life and follow our Lord … NO MATTER WHAT! … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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