How should Christians make decisions? How can we be sure that we are acting in accordance with God’s will? Today’s passage records the first significant decision Jesus’ disciples had to make after He had gone away into Heaven. How did they know what to do?

In the first place, verse 14 tells us they were all in one accord. And the decision they eventually made was one they all agreed on. This is still a good test for us – if you have surrounded yourself with Christian friends, and if after consulting all those friends you are the only one who thinks something is a good idea, maybe you should think again. For the good news is that God has placed all of us in families and congregations, not only so we can learn from each other, but so that we can hold each other accountable.

But verse 14 also tells us that they were all devoted to prayer. Moreover, verse 24 says that the disciples prayed as they cast lots to select one of their two final candidates for Judas’ vacant position – they wanted to make sure God was making the final decision, not them. Just so, in all our efforts to know God’s will, both individual and corporate prayer must play a central role. If we want to know the choice God wants us to make, there’s no substitute for asking Him to lead and guide us.

But perhaps the most important thing of all is what Peter said in verses 16 and 20. For just as Psalm 69:25 had predicted Judas’ self-destruction, Psalm 109:8 showed what should be done about it – another should take his office. In other words, the reason that Peter and the rest of the disciples knew they needed to choose a replacement for Judas was because of what they read in the Scriptures.

And so, after praying together, and after seeking together to know what God was saying in the Scriptures, they sought together to put God’s Word into practice in their lives. That sounds like a good model for us to follow whenever we have a choice to make, doesn’t it?

Acts 1:12-26 (ESV)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us– one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.