Ananias lived in Damascus and he was a follower of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord called to him in a vision… and Ananias quickly responded, “Here I am, Lord.”

(NASB) Acts 9:11-12 “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,
12 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.”

Specific instructions of Jesus to Ananias
* Get up.
* Go to the street called Straight (all was well and good for Ananias to this point)
* Ask at the house of Judas for Saul from Tarsus (uh-oh.  Saul?  Saul of Tarsus?)

What God had done to prepare Saul
* Saul blinded, Saul saw the Lord Jesus, Saul who had been spoken to by the Lord Jesus
* God-given vision to Saul of a man named Ananias coming to lay hands on him to regain his sight. 

  Ananias had been quick to recognize the call of the Lord Jesus and responded, “Here I am, Lord.” 
  The Lord gave specific instructions to Ananias.  They were simple and straight-forward. 

  Yet the Lord’s words must have stopped Ananias in his tracks.  To go to Saul of Tarsus?  Uhhhh, the same man who is doing  much harm to Your followers in Jerusalem?  The same man who has been authorized by the chief priests to come here, to Damascus, to arrest Your followers and take them back to Jerusalem?  Do you really mean that Saul of Tarsus? 
Acts 9:13-14

  When God calls you and me to a specific task… Remember, it is for His purposes and it is for His praise and glory in the lives of others.

  Did Ananias understand this directive from the Lord?  He understood what was being asked of him but I don’t think he knew God’s intentions for the life of Saul. 

  When God has called you, how have you responded in the past?  Would you respond as quickly today, if you had known what awaited you? 
  God calls us to be available to Him.  The Lord God has a purpose and plan to glorify His name in and through the lives of others…we are to respond with obedience.

  Despite the circumstances, despite our feelings, God calls us to do what He calls us to do.  Remember: He is Immanuel.  God with us.  He will not leave us or forsake us.  Hang on to Him, followers of Christ, for God calls us to be available.

~ Take it to heart ~

You never know, perhaps the one He is calling you to go visit, may be used as an instrument like Saul was to become, by God.  Saul later became known as Paul.

Categories: The Acts of the Holy Spirit