Acts 1:15-26 Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.

Poor Justus. He wasn’t chosen, not to be an apostle. The lot fell to Matthias. God chose him to be number twelve among the twelve, his name forever recorded in the Book and his throne reserved in heaven.

But that doesn’t mean that Justus wasn’t chosen. He must have had a very privileged position. He had been with Jesus from the time his ministry began and he was there to see Jesus alive and risen from the dead. What greater blessing is there than that? And he was one of the only two men who could have claimed that. What a story he would still have to tell and ministry of witness to pursue. Just not so out there and upfront.

Nothing wrong with that. God calls us all to privileged position. To witness his love and mercy at work. To tell of what we have seen and heard. To love those around us with the love that we have received firsthand and close up in the Risen One.

And then, most wonderfully of all, to point to Jesus with a humble behind the scenes witness that it is not all about me, it is about him. Him who was born in a backwater, died ignominiously as a criminal, rose again before anyone was awake to see.

I don’t have to be acclaimed and the center of attention either. Enough, Father, to just be in the room and doing what I can. Thank you so much.