From Obscurity to Apostle

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Have you ever been surprised by God with an opportunity you never sought, expected or imagined? It’s really cool with that happens, especially in the middle of what we sometimes think of as a ho-hum life. There was a character in Acts who may have felt the same. His name was Matthias. We know he replaced Judas as one of the Twelve, but that’s about it [Acts1:21-22]. 

What we do know is that he followed Jesus from the beginning of His ministry until His resurrection without recognition. He wasn’t one of the men Jesus selected as a Disciple, but he followed Him anyway. And kept following Him. He listened to the Lord’s powerful Sermon on the Mount, and ate supper with five thousand  people with what started out as a handful of bread and fish. He rejoiced in amazement as people were healed in Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida. He shouted with praise as Jesus rode a donkey down the Mt. of Olives to His final Passover. And just a few days later, he watched his world turn upside down when the One he had been following over three years was nailed to a Roman cross. He was a witness to it all—yet in obscurity. His name is not mentioned until the book of Acts, but he was there on every page of the Gospels. 

We see this a lot in Scripture. People who serve the Lord faithfully in the background, obscure, until God expands their influence for His glory. People like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the three Hebrew boys. Women like Ruth and Esther. Obscure, faithful, then, at the right moment, hand-picked by God for something significant. 

We see Matthias’ name mentioned only in connection with the replacement of Judas. He was an obscure Christ follower, he emerged for a moment, then returned to obscurity. He was a virtual unknown who followed Christ with a single motivation—faithfulness.

Just like us!

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”  Matthew 25:21