‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’ (vv13–14) Acts 9:10–19
There are some people who may never know the extent of their part in global mission. Ananias is one of these. We have this brief mention in Scripture, but through his courage and faithfulness, God released the powerful and influential ministry of Paul.
When we ask God to speak to us, and then hear God’s voice, He expects us to respond. I imagine that Ananias daily prayed to God, and one night God spoke back very precisely with details of a task, a person and an address. A word of knowledge, in fact (1 Cor. 12:8).
In his excitement, Ananias realised that God’s invitation was to step into the lion’s den; did he want to, as the song goes, ‘Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known’?’ He knew the risks and perhaps the first knocking Saul heard was that of Ananias’ knees.
Obeying God always demands courage. Confronting his fears, Ananias went and released Saul through prayer and the whole world became a beneficiary of one person’s obedience.
We give thanks for the miracle delivered through Ananias, and for the many miracles that take place every day because of the simple obedience of people around the globe. We can never know the full impact of our obedience, nor do we need to. God only ever asks that we are faithful with what He asks of us and that we respond, ‘Yes, Lord, send me’.
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Deut. 5:32–33; Isa. 30:19–26; John 15:12–17; Acts 13:1–2.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Where can you find the courage to obey what God reveals in your prayerful study of His word?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help me to be faithful in obeying all that You say to me, knowing that my obedience is an expression of Your mission on earth. Amen.’
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
