They cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

— Acts 1:26

At a professional basketball game, have you looked at all of the players sitting on the bench? Most of them still have their warmups on and aren’t sweating at all. They all have plenty of skills, or they wouldn’t even be allowed to sit on that bench. They were probably stars at whatever previous level of basketball they played. But for now they sit on the bench and patiently wait for a turn to play.

I wonder if Matthias felt in a way like that. He had been following Jesus from the beginning. He had heard everything that Jesus had taught. He had seen all of the miracles Jesus had done. He may have been one of the 72 followers Jesus had sent out during his ministry. Matthias must have had many stories to share about what he had seen and done while following Jesus. Certainly he was a qualified and loyal follower of Jesus. But he wasn’t one of the 12 apostles until his name came up and was drawn by lot.

Sometimes the message we get from Jesus is “Wait.” We may be ready to go where he sends us or to do what he wants us to do. But he tells us to wait. Wait for the opportunity and for the time to be right. Wait for Jesus to call on us.

I imagine Matthias was excited to become part of the leading group of Christ-followers who would go out and change the world. I hope you are excited to be a part of that movement as well.

Lord Jesus, when you call us to follow you, move us to say yes with excitement and joy for what you have in store for us. Amen.