“The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so that he can see again.”
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And we hear that he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest every believer in Damascus.”
(Acts 9:11-14 NLT)
In today’s verses, the Lord is instructing Ananias to go and befriend Saul, to pray and lay hands on him to heal his sight. Ananias is initially hesitant, saying that he had heard that Saul had done terrible things to the church’s early believers in Jerusalem and that the Jewish priests had authorized him to arrest every believer in Damascus.
Ananias was hesitant because he wasn’t sure that Saul had really changed. But he did as God had instructed him, and in doing so he discovered an important truth. When we reach out to others and share the Good News, God not only uses us to help them; He also uses the experience to strengthen our faith.
Have you ever been reluctant to step out in faith and help someone? Listen to God and be obedient, doing as He instructs, and you will be a blessing to others and also grow in your faith!
"If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it."
- Henry Blackaby