Bible Reading: Matthew 10:2-20 & Acts 1:12-14
The second line in the twelfth verse of the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, says, “eleven pipers piping.” The eleven pipers represent the eleven disciples that remained
faithful to Jesus after Judas Iscariot (the original twelfth disciple) betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. Acts 1:13 lists these eleven disciples by name: “Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.” These men continued to obediently serve Jesus in spite of all they had witnessed.
Then, after Jesus returned to heaven, these men chose Matthias to take Judas’ place as the twelfth disciple, as scripture told them to do (Acts 1:20; Psalm 69:25; Psalm 109:8).
Once that was done, these men all got about doing the work Jesus wanted them to be doing – sharing the gospel, helping people, healing people, and teaching people about God’s kingdom – serving as the first missionaries.
Ultimately, these men all died, some for their faith, others faithfully living their faith.
I hope you and I will serve the Lord Jesus as faithfully as the eleven “pipers” and Matthias!
“But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to faithfully serve You, just like the eleven “pipers.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.