"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
-Hebrews 11: 8

Ananias

Do you know the story of Ananias? You can read about it in Acts 9: 10-19. Ananias was a follower of Jesus who lived in Damascus. One day the Lord called to him in a vision. "In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called 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.' " (Acts 9: 10-12) It just so happened that this man Saul had been on his way to Damascus in order to arrest and persecute believers like Ananias. Ananias knew this. " 'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' " (Acts 9: 13-14)

Can you relate to Ananias? He is a follower of Jesus and then one day the Lord calls him to do what in Ananias' eyes was a crazy request. I understand how he must have felt. 'Wait a minute, Lord. You want me to go help this guy? Don't you realize that this man, Saul, is coming here to arrest guys like me?' Those must have been thoughts that were going through Ananias' mind. "But 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.' " (Acts 9: 15) Ananias chose to obey and trust the Lord. He went to Saul and did as God had commanded him. What happened next? "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." (Acts 9: 18-19) That man Saul, changed his name to Paul, and became a great evangelist for the Lord, and in fact wrote many of the books of the New Testament.

Ananias had a choice to make in what seemed like a no win situation for him. He was afraid of Saul and what Saul might do to him, but he decided to act in faith and do what God had called him to do. The result of this faith was a miracle! God still works miracles through those who have faith in Him, through those who trust in Him, through those who obey Him. The Bible is full of stories of men of faith and the miracles God worked through them. See Hebrews 11: 8 above and Jonah 3: 3 below. Both those verses make references to other men who obeyed God and acted in faith although both also had doubts in their mind just as Ananias did (go read their stories). May all of us be faithful and obey God like Ananias when those opportunities come our way. Amen!

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh..."
-Jonah 3: 3

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