Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 9
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 9
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."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
We certainly know a lot about Saul, later named Paul, the apostle. But we don’t know as much about Ananias, the disciple who lived in Damascus (Syria). Ananias was probably also one of the 70 disciples that were sent out reported in Luke 10. Tradition also has it that Ananias was “martyred” for his faith.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Ananias for being God’s special instrument to call Saul of Tarsus out of blindness into being a great apostle to the Gentiles. In one sense, Paul is a father of all Gentile (non Jewish) Christians, as this was his special calling. But it all started with Ananias’ obedience to the vision the Lord put on his heart.
One can only imagine how much faith it took to go up to a man who had persecuted and killed many Christians and lay hands on him. Especially since Saul was on the way to Damascus Ananias’ hometown. But the confirmation happened when as soon as Ananias obeyed the vision God gave him. Saul’s blindness was taken from him and he got up and was baptized. After this passage, Paul went on to Damascus and stayed with the believers there. We are not sure if he was student or teacher. Probably the former and quite possibly he was discipled by Ananias the man who led him to faith and probably baptized him.
What can we learn from this important, but not so famous disciple? Sometimes the Lord calls us to small acts of obedience that we don’t understand at first, and may even defy logic, but often they can lead to great gains for the kingdom. Where might God be calling you to step out in obedience, even though you may want to resist and even for good reason?
God thank you for Ananias who heard your call to reach out to Saul, and help convert the man who would be one of the greatest apostles you have ever sent into the world. Give us the faith of Ananias to trust what you ask us to do, even if we don’t understand it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
We certainly know a lot about Saul, later named Paul, the apostle. But we don’t know as much about Ananias, the disciple who lived in Damascus (Syria). Ananias was probably also one of the 70 disciples that were sent out reported in Luke 10. Tradition also has it that Ananias was “martyred” for his faith.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Ananias for being God’s special instrument to call Saul of Tarsus out of blindness into being a great apostle to the Gentiles. In one sense, Paul is a father of all Gentile (non Jewish) Christians, as this was his special calling. But it all started with Ananias’ obedience to the vision the Lord put on his heart.
One can only imagine how much faith it took to go up to a man who had persecuted and killed many Christians and lay hands on him. Especially since Saul was on the way to Damascus Ananias’ hometown. But the confirmation happened when as soon as Ananias obeyed the vision God gave him. Saul’s blindness was taken from him and he got up and was baptized. After this passage, Paul went on to Damascus and stayed with the believers there. We are not sure if he was student or teacher. Probably the former and quite possibly he was discipled by Ananias the man who led him to faith and probably baptized him.
What can we learn from this important, but not so famous disciple? Sometimes the Lord calls us to small acts of obedience that we don’t understand at first, and may even defy logic, but often they can lead to great gains for the kingdom. Where might God be calling you to step out in obedience, even though you may want to resist and even for good reason?
God thank you for Ananias who heard your call to reach out to Saul, and help convert the man who would be one of the greatest apostles you have ever sent into the world. Give us the faith of Ananias to trust what you ask us to do, even if we don’t understand it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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