Imagine God sending you to the person who’s persecuted members of your family. What would you do? Let’s examine Ananias’ role, despite facing this exact challenge and take on the baton he ran with.
If you’ve ever read the Bible, you’ll see Galatians, Ephesians, and the likes, most of the New Testament written by Apostle Paul. Although, he didn’t start out like that.
When you read Acts 8, you see the central message of the persecution of the Church led by a certain man named Saul.
Acts 8:1 TPT
[1] Now, Saul agreed to be an accomplice to Stephen’s stoning and participated in his execution. From that day on, a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem began. All the believers scattered into the countryside of Judea and among the Samaritans, except the apostles who remained behind in Jerusalem.
In his persecution of the Church, he has an encounter with Christ on the way to Damascus. Read Acts 9:1-9. Now comes Ananias’ role in this story.
Although the Bible doesn’t say much about Ananias’ background, it does say that he was a disciple based in Damascus. That means that he already believed in and was being trained in the way of Christ.
If I may say, Ananias played quite a pivotal role in Saul’s story. How? When you read Acts 9:11-16, you see Ananias’ hesitation to go meet Saul. However, you also see God tell Ananias to go to Saul, listing out what Saul’s purpose will be.
Acts 9:11-12 NKJV
[11] So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. [12] And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
In the event that Ananias stood on the grounds of his hesitation, I daresay we may not be reading the epistles written by Apostle Paul. Why? Ananias got wind of Apostle Paul’s purpose before he did.
Acts 9:15-17 NKJV
[15] But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. [16] For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
[17] And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
You’ll notice that Ananias didn’t need God to cajole him to meet Saul. Instead, he quickly went on hearing God’s instructions. That’s how swift you & I will be when God sends us, even to those who we’ve heard negative things about.
May you & I take on the baton that Ananias has passed to us. In that, your hesitations don’t dissuade your obedience to God.
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Thank you for reading – Funmi
