Spare A Thought For Joseph

Spare A Thought For JosephReader: Jon WatsonDate: 21st April 2022Passage: Acts 1:23-26-------------------We all know how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, and afterwards he went and committed suicide. A terrible and sad story. Now the eleven remaining apostles of Jesus came to appoint a man to take the place of Judas Iscariot. They outlined the qualifications this new apostle must have — the same qualifications they had, of being with Jesus since the time of John the Baptist's ministry and having seen the resurrected Jesus. There were several men who maybe could have met these requirements, but two men were obviously standing out from the others — Joseph and Matthias. Eventually Matthias was chosen (after much prayer) and we don't hear of Joseph again. I wonder what he felt like having been so nearly made an apostle? We should spare a thought for him.Sometimes it may be that we are passed over for a promotion or not chosen for a team or not appointed to some office in the church. We can feel hurt when that happens; maybe we feel angry or jealous of the person who was chosen instead of us. I have no reason to think Joseph felt like that. After all the other apostles liked him well enough to think he would have been a good apostle. But in some ways I do feel sorry fo him.PrayerDear Lord, help me to cope with hurts and disappointments, and to see that you have another plan for me. Amen