I find it fascinating when parts of Scripture
“jump out” at me and hit me in a new way. It is particularly encouraging to me
when it is one of those passages that, due to the story being told, it is
somewhat “hidden” or “buried” along the way and can be easily missed or glanced
over.
One such passage is in Acts, Chapter one and revolves around the encounter with the Disciples.
They had an important decision to make. They needed to determine who they were
going to choose to replace Judas (Judas had killed himself after betraying
Jesus).
As the story unfolds, it isn’t too hard to
figure out that there are only two men up for the election. As the event
unfolds, we see in Acts 1:26, "They then drew lots between the two
men." And the one chosen was Matthias. The one who “didn’t get the job”
was a man name Joseph Barsabbas.
This is where it hit me….not that Matthias was
chosen, but with a 50-50 chance, Joseph Barsabbas was not chosen; he was passed over. He was fully qualified. He had the
ability. He was talented enough and had “what it takes” because, after all, he
was one of the candidates picked out for consideration. However, despite all he
was…all he had done…all that he accomplished was still not enough…he wasn’t
chosen. He had to move on with his life in a different direction.
Does
that sound like a few scenarios in your life? Have you ever been passed over
for a job promotion? Maybe you didn’t get selected as “employee of the month,” or didn’t
make varsity and not even JV? Have there been times you went months without receiving job offers despite numerous resumes and job interviews? Have you ever lost out to your sibling for a parent's attention? Now what
do you do?
We can learn lessons from all we know about Joseph Barsabbas:
* Joseph followed Jesus wherever He went (Acts 1:21).
* Joseph was faithful over the long haul. He stayed in the company of the disciples from beginning to end (Acts 1:22).
* Joseph did not seek honors for himself; but was nominated by the others (Acts 1:23).
* Joseph was a powerful, faithful disciple, worthy of being an apostle.
* Joseph joined the leaders and Matthias in humbly seeking God's will (Acts 1:24).
* Joseph was ready to serve God if he was chosen.
After Matthias was chosen, we hear no more about Joseph…at all. However, it's likely that Joseph responded to being "un-chosen" by living the same faithful, committed life as always. Joseph may not have been chosen, but he lived in such a way, that he was prepared, able, and willing to get himself in the position of having what it takes to be choose-able.
Like Joseph, we can be faithful servants of God, "each of [us] doing only what the Lord assigned" us (1 Corinthians 3:5). Even if we don’t get the job, win the award, get passed over for some position or didn’t receive due favor or recognition, we are always "chosen and precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 2:4).
We can learn lessons from all we know about Joseph Barsabbas:
* Joseph followed Jesus wherever He went (Acts 1:21).
* Joseph was faithful over the long haul. He stayed in the company of the disciples from beginning to end (Acts 1:22).
* Joseph did not seek honors for himself; but was nominated by the others (Acts 1:23).
* Joseph was a powerful, faithful disciple, worthy of being an apostle.
* Joseph joined the leaders and Matthias in humbly seeking God's will (Acts 1:24).
* Joseph was ready to serve God if he was chosen.
After Matthias was chosen, we hear no more about Joseph…at all. However, it's likely that Joseph responded to being "un-chosen" by living the same faithful, committed life as always. Joseph may not have been chosen, but he lived in such a way, that he was prepared, able, and willing to get himself in the position of having what it takes to be choose-able.
Like Joseph, we can be faithful servants of God, "each of [us] doing only what the Lord assigned" us (1 Corinthians 3:5). Even if we don’t get the job, win the award, get passed over for some position or didn’t receive due favor or recognition, we are always "chosen and precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 2:4).