In Acts 9, we are told the story of Saul on the road to Damascus. We see a man who absolutely HATES believers. He is a man that wants to KILL believers, or bring them back in chains. He sets off to the town of Damascus to pretty much arrest the ones who call on the name of Jesus. On his journey, the Lord brings him to his knees and asks him, “Why are you persecuting Me?” I love Saul’s response. He says, “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus goes on to tell him that Saul has been persecuting Him. Jesus tells him to carry on into the town, but he would be instructed what to do once he got there. Once Saul opened his eyes, he had become blind, so the men that were with him had to pretty much walk Saul by hand to the town.
My favorite part of this story is Ananias. A strong and faithful follower of Jesus. God calls out to him and asks him to go to the house of Judas to pray over Saul; that he would re-gain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ananias was instantly worried, as he knew that Saul was a killer of believers. I can only imagine that if people were around him, they were attempting to keep him from going to ensure his safety. Ananias still remained faithful and went to pray over Saul. Something like scales fell off of Saul’s eyes and he could see again, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit! God used Ananias’ faithfulness to speak truth and life into a man who was filled with evil desires and wicked ways!
I can relate to Ananias. My squad and I have been called to go and face a cruel and evil world in hopes to give them their spiritual sight, along with proving the power of the Holy Spirit. I use this story of Ananias as a promise. I feel as if God is trying to tell me that if I only remain faithful to GO, He will show me the miracles He can do. He will show me His power in a whole new way! He will use me to bring sight to the lost, and hope to the hopeless!
To those of you still worried about my squad and me, I pray that God gives you the peace you need to know that God has this all planned out for HIS glory! Rest in that. God has an ultimate plan, and I just want to take part in it, as do my squad mates! God never promised us that following Him would be an easy and safe journey. No, it is a journey of hardships and struggles, but all of the glory still returns to our Savior!
Think about this, we are all called by God in the Great Commission. So the question is not DO we go and share God’s name, it is WHEN AND HOW! Pray that today!
#TellTheWorld
