God's Choice

If God was going to ask you to do something, how hard would you think it might be?

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus. - Acts 9:10-19

When God asked Moses to go to Pharaoh to gain the release of His people, Moses was reluctant and scared.  Pharaoh was very powerful and Moses had committed a crime.

But God needed His people to be freed and Moses was trustworthy.

So it is with Ananias, a trusted and devoted follower whom God chooses to free the disciples of the tyranny of Saul's persecutions.

Ananias was scared.  He had heard of Saul and he was not too excited about meeting the man who had believers killed.

God's criteria for choosing someone to lead is a lot different than ours.  We tend to want to see evidence of prior leadership experience, or at least potential.  God's focus seems to be on something else.  Loyalty.

God knew Ananias was afraid, but he calmed his fears by telling him God would humble the enemy by making him suffer; Ananias will be the one to heal him.

God chose the punishment for Saul, and chose humanity, in the form of Ananias, to be the tool of redemption.  So, what can we learn from this?

If we set our sights on God, and remain devoted, loyal and true, we will be ready to combat our fears and do what God calls us to do.  We may be frightened at first, but He will give us courage and strength.

And through us, miracles will happen.  

More to come...