Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Acts 9:10-16

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Ananias
means Jehovah is gracious
a fitting name for the one who was to extend the grace of God to Saul

Ananias was a good Jew before he was converted to Christianity and was still respected by the Jews, a special person God had prepared to deliver such an important message to Saul the Zealot. Ananias was to GO with a God given purpose to find Saul who had been blind for 3 days, we read that he was praying. I can only imagine the quiet time Saul had with only God. Be still & know that I am God.
Ananias stated the facts to the Lord about what he knew about this Saul, he did not say that he would not go, he simply acknowledged that his own life might be in danger. When the Lord directly told Ananias to "Go!" He clarified the importance of this Saul's past, present & future.
Saul had been a persecutor & murderer of the followers of Christ in the past, at present he was helpless & blind, but God's future plan was for him to be a chosen instrument, a messenger to the Gentiles delivering the Good News about Jesus Christ.
V. 16 "For I will show him how much he must suffer for My names sake." Jesus did not present a false picture of what Saul could expect if he decided to accept the Lord's challenge. Neither should we!!! The man who came to Damascus to inflict suffering would have to endure suffering. When the Lord calls us to serve, he also calls us to suffer. 2 Tim 3:12
God calls us to commitment, not to comfort!

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