"Yes, Lord," he answered.
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (Acts 9: 10-19)
Ananias was a believer from Damascus, and we don't read anything else about him in scripture. But he was asked to do a difficult thing when God told him to pray for Saul. As far as Ananias was concerned, God might as well have asked him to put his head in a lion's mouth. But God was insistent, so Ananias obeyed. This was Ananias' moment to shine, and the consequences of his obedience have been shaking the world ever since. Never underestimate just one conversion. Human history changed when Saul was saved and adopted into the Church ("Brother Saul," Ananias called him.) You may believe God's tasks for you are small, but never underestimate what God can do with one act of obedience.
Have you ever seen God use you in a way you didn't expect? How did that feel?
Spend today remembering that you actions can have eternal consequences. See what changes in your attitudes.
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