In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”  Yes, Lord,” he answered.  The 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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”   “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”  But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. Acts 9:10-15  

I admit it. There is a person in my life that I have a hard time liking. This person has been lying and conniving. They have been abusive and destructive. They have done damage to people that will only be undone through miraculous work. They have left a path of destruction in their wake.    They are reckless and wicked.  If I had anything to do with it, the person would never have contact with me or anyone I love ever again.  When God asked me to pray for this person, I had a hard time.  I think this is why I felt for Ananias when I read Acts 9.


God was asking him to go find Saul and lay hands on him so that Saul's sight would be regained.  Ananias was a bit hesitant and even reminded God about who Saul was.  He knew that Saul hated Christians.  He knew it could be dangerous.  You see, Saul had been on the hunt for Christ followers. Chapter 8 tells us that Saul was “ravaging“ the church. He was like a wild beast searching for believers, dragging them off to prison. It even says in chapter 9, Saul was, “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.”  He was also witness to and in agreement with the stoning of Stephen.


I can understand the hesitation Ananias had when God asked him to go to Saul.   I might have thought I misunderstood what God was telling me to do! I'm quite sure I would have questioned Him too.  After Ananias questioned God, the response from God was, “Go. For He is a chosen instrument of mine to bear my name.”  

So, faithful and obedient Ananias did as he was told.  Saul's sight was restored and the rest is history. Saul, later known as Paul, was converted.  He  was used in mighty, mighty ways by God from that time until the end of his life.

Ananias chose to follow what God asked Him to do knowing that it could have been a dangerous situation for him.  If Saul was still the same person, Ananias could have been beaten, hauled to jail, or even lost his life.   Yet he chose to follow what God asked for him.  What an example of obedience.


Now it’s our turn. What is God asking me to do? What is God asking you to do?  Does it seem hard, impossible, crazy? Is it loving an unlovely person?  Is He asking you to forgive what seems unforgivable?  Is God asking you to stay with  a spouse that you no longer love or one that doesn't love you?  Is it showing tough love to a teen?  Maybe it's stepping out of what life looks like now into a totally different job or ministry.  
I don't know what God is asking you to do today.  Maybe it's big.  Maybe it's small.  I do know that obedience is a beautiful thing.  God knows what He is doing.   Simply obey. 

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