SAUL/PAUL and ANANIAS

He was so mean the preacher was afraid to pray for him. He had a lot of “notches” on his “anti-Christian belt”. His last victim was one of the most sincere of the bunch of Christians whose belief system threatened his way of life. And he was on his way to more dastardly deeds.

But Saul hadn’t counted on the light at the “intersection”. It was a stoplight named “Jesus”, brighter than the noonday sun. It was so bright that Saul was blinded until the preacher, Ananias was told by God to go by and pray for this arch-enemy.

“Who me?” exploded Ananias. “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go.’ This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles (read “pagans”) and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16).

Ananias accepted the responsibility. Saul responded to God and his blindness responded to Ananias’s faithful prayer.

Responsibility! It’s a wonderful trait. God knew that both Ananias and Saul would follow through on the tasks assigned to them. Had either “fumbled the ball”, what we call Christianity may have died a second death in tiny Israel. Thank God for responsibility!

[Acts 7:58-8:3, 9:1-19]

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.