God Uses the Weak and Saves the Hopeless All the Time
“5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” ”
Acts 9:5-24 ESV Read More
Ananias is a believer. Saul had a flash of light knock him off his horse and strike him blind. That is why he is obeying right now.
Ananias is just praying. He has a vision, which would be pretty awesome, but the vision is not very comforting. He knows about this Saul guy. He was probably spending some time worrying and afraid of what would happen when Saul made it to his city.
Think of how much we tried to avoid Covid in the early days. Or to pick something less political, the Gestapo in Germany. You wouldn’t go FIND them and talk to them, you’d run!
And here Jesus tells Ananias that He needs him to go find Saul. How encouraging that must have been to hear that you’ve been rescued! Saul has had a vision in which you, Ananias, have prayed for him to regain his sight. You’re sleepless night of fear and wondering what to do has just turned into a revolution.
You might have a person in your life right now that you fear for. You might sit up at night wondering what will ever happen to them, or if they are even ok now.
Don’t stop praying for them.
If God would use Ananias to save a murderous, half-Greek Pharisee, God can use anyone to save anyone.
It’s what He loves to do. That’s His favorite thing.