Observation: Saul is on a mission to arrest, take into captivity, and perhaps turn over for execution, every believer in Jesus in Damascus. Yes, along the way he is miraculously confronted by Jesus, blinded, made helpless while he contemplates his fate. And then ... Ananias enters the conversation. Ananias knows of Saul and knows why he is in town. However, he is a disciple, and the moment the Lord speaks to him, he responds.
In other words, at that exact moment, Ananias knows he is about to be hunted down and persecuted, yet when the Lord calls him to action, he responds. As a result, Ananias gets to participate in his own salvation from persecution, and become part of the long story of the apostle who will go on to teach the good news throughout much of the Hellenistic world.
Application: When the Lord does give me something to do, it might be for the good of others. However, it could also be part of the good the Lord plans for me as well. It is possible that the first benefactor of some good deed the Lord shows me is not the person to whom the deed is performed, but it is me. Yes, there could be some long-term benefit to others, and that benefit may be all the more prominent and obvious. That the Lord decided to have me participate in that, however, could be just the way he decides to love me, too.
Prayer: Lord, again I say today, may I have more courage and faith in responding to your prompting. As I hear your words of knowledge, I will speak them, knowing that doing so may even help me, too. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment