40 Days Of Prayer - Day 07

In the Book of Acts, chapter 9, we meet a man who changed the world entire.

Chapter 9 records the journey of Paul, then called Saul, to the city of Damascus. Saul was travelling there to hunt down Christians, to arrest them or worse, because they claimed that Jesus, whom he thought to be a mere man, a false preacher, was God in the flesh, that he had indeed risen after his death by crucifixion.

On the road there,

Acts 9:3-5
"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”"

And here’s where we meet a man who changed the globe…I’m not talking about Paul, who would go on to become the greatest missionary of the first century, who was responsible for spreading the gospel to the whole non-Jewish world, who wrote much of the New Testament…I’m talking about a man maybe you’ve never heard of…

Acts 9:10-19
"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. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Then 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.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength."

Saul was healed by God, saved by God, used by God to reach the world with the good news but only because Ananias obeyed, because he did what didn’t make sense to him. Because he did what God called him to do even though it must have been terrifying. Ananias is the disciple of a man who was executed, so instead of running from the man in town to arrest him, a man who could have him killed, he goes to that guy’s house! That makes NO sense. As Christians God often calls us to obey him in ways that seem to make no earthly sense, that are terrifying.

How is God calling you to pass on the truth, to plant your family in Christ, to partner with his family, to prepare his house? What is he calling you to do that seems terrifying? Is he calling you to start praying with your family at meals time, even if you think it will be crazy awkward? To start attending a life group? To test-drive a service team? To start tithing? To up your standard of giving so that it significantly impacts your standard of living?

Ananias heard from God, and he could have doubted himself out of it, said, 'That's not really the Lord, just a thought I had." He could have distracted himself out of it. He didn't. He listened and obeyed. Ananias went to a house on Straight St. if he didn’t, I can’t even imagine how different the world would be. Ananias' obedience left an amazing Kingdom Legacy!

"Father, what are you calling me to? Help me to listen and to obey, no matter how terrified I feel. Make me strong and courageous as I learn to trust you! Amen"

Written by Sarah Braun