Acts 9:10-17a NLT Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”  “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” So Ananias went and found Saul.

When going to a new place, I always check a map before I go. I have a hard time relying on other people’s directions, or following someone else’s car. Not because I can’t follow directions, but because I don’t trust them! This probably goes back to the first time I got truly lost as a teenager. The guy I was “following” sped off on the highway and I had a car full of chatty teenage girls with no clue where we were headed. After getting very lost, we had to use a payphone at a gas station (no cell phones yet!) to get proper directions. I still feel anxious thinking about it!

Well, Ananias received some directions from the Lord, but he didn’t trust the directions either. He had two problems with the directions: Saul was an enemy of the believers, so why would the Lord want to help him? And, Saul could arrest him on the spot, just for being a believer! But God had information that Ananias did not have: after being healed, Saul would become Paul, the greatest missionary I know of, and the man responsible for bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles (of which I am one). Fortunately for all of us, Ananias chose to follow the Lord’s directions.

-Kevi

 

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