Playing a Small Part in a Big Plan
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go…” Acts 9:10-15
In reading the Bible this past week, I was reading the story again of Ananias in Acts 9. We don’t know much about Ananias other than that he lived in Damascus and was probably a member of the synagogue there. Scripture says he was well regarded and devout. Ananias had heard stories about Saul. When there is a threat, news of the threat tends to spread quickly. Saul had Christians bound, cast in jail, and even murdered for believing there was salvation in the name of Jesus.
God had humbled Saul on his way to Damascus. In a vision, God told Ananias the story and what needed to be done. Ananias was to be a person of peace that welcomed Saul into the fellowship. While Ananias was understandably hesitant to do the will of God, he nonetheless submitted himself to God’s plan.
The Apostle Paul—as Saul would later become known—became one of the greatest theologians of the church. He was used by God to open the door to the Gospel for the Gentiles. You and I are indebted recipients of the grace of God shown to Paul through his writings in the Scriptures.
Yet, it was the obedience of an obscure individual—Ananias—that opened the door for Paul to fulfill his calling. It is easy to pass over the role of Ananias in Saul’s conversion. It occupies a few short verses in one of the longer books of the New Testament. It is easy to overlook that Ananias genuinely felt his life was on the line by speaking to Saul. Yet the obedience of Ananias in praying for someone who seemed to be an enemy reaped a reward that would influence every fiber of the church.
As you are seeking the Lord today, what is He asking you to be obedient to do? Who is He asking you to pray for? What areas of your life are you to bring under submission to Christ? We will never know how obedience in seemingly small tasks of life can help impact others for the Glory of God.
Prayer: Jesus, help our heart to desire obedience. Help us to hear Your voice clearly and quickly obey. We may not always understand Your plan, but we can always trust You each step of the way. Amen.