Sovereign God

January 15

(Acts 1:23-26 NIV)  "So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. {24} Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen {25} to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." {26} Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

(Acts 1:15-16 NIV) ""In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) {16} and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled…""

(Acts 4:24-28 NIV) ““When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. {25} You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? {26} The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' {27} Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. {28} They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.””

The early church believed in the sovereignty of God so strongly that they literally “drew straws” to choose the disciple who would replace Judas. Rather than voting, which would have reflected their choice, they “cast lots”, trusting God to choose, because they believed that God is sovereign. They did their part by offering two godly men, but left the final decision up to their Sovereign Lord. Earlier in Acts, Peter declared that the betrayal of Judas was a fulfillment of Scripture. God’s word said it would happen, and it happened -- because God is sovereign. Later in Acts, the apostles spoke of Herod and Pilate conspiring against Jesus. They declared it the fulfillment of God’s will -- God is sovereign. Is this the God you believe in? Is He the Sovereign Lord of your life? Do you give God opportunities to lead you, or do you run ahead of Him? Are you walking in His sovereign will, or in yours? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day