Given November 9, 2004
Do you remember the story of Paul on the road to Damascus? He was knocked off his donkey by a great light and heard the voice of Jesus telling him to go to Damascus and wait to be told what to do next. At the same time, Jesus called to a disciple in Damascus, Ananias, and gave him a very frightening task: “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Acts 9:11-12“.
Ananias protested at first because of Saul’s reputation for doing harm to the saints. But when Jesus said, “Go.” in verse 15, Ananias went and did what he was told. Think how awesome this was. Jesus chose a believer, sent him on a dangerous, (he thought), mission, he called Saul “brother”, laid hands on him and Saul was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit! What an important assignment for Ananias.
The rest, as they say, is history. But don’t you think Ananias was blessed for being obedient? And if he had not been, Jesus would probably have chosen someone else. But he was obedient in the face of uncertainty and I can imagine, as he heard reports of the work Paul was doing, he realized how blessed he was for Jesus to have chosen him.
You know, Jesus might just send you or me on some important mission. First, are we, “… a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. Acts 22:12” as Ananias was. Second, will we be willing to go. Who knows what future great preacher Jesus may send us to minister to; or maybe it will be a down-and-out bum on the street who needs a kind word and something to eat. God uses people to serve His people.
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(This) Ananias is one of my favorite Bible people. Even though he made sure he was hearing right, he believed God, and approached a man with such a fearful reputation, that he may have believed he was putting his own life in danger.
Yet he didn’t hesitate to obey.
All of the early believers put their lives in danger every day.
I wonder what I would do.