God Would Work Through Someone Like That To Reach Me?
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Are you ready?
Are you ready for the lobby of the church to smell like snuffed-out cigarettes? Are you ready to smell some B-O when you’re in the middle of a worship song? Or how about not fully understanding what people are saying as they ask for prayer because their accent is so thick?
Are any of us ever ready?
Ananias wasn’t ready at all, but he listened to God.
Paul wasn’t ready at all, but he kind of didn’t have much of a choice. He was stuck in sit-and-wait mode.
One time I was at a pot-luck and a person came that smelled so bad that I couldn’t eat my food. Their smell went across the room like Pepé Le Pew’s scent and punched me in the face. At first, I was mad. I really was. What is this person’s problem that they can’t even take good enough care of themselves that I can’t even eat in the same room?!”
And of course, that was when I realized that Jesus ate around people that stunk with sin all the time. I mean all the time. Every meal He had was with people that were so much more rebellious and cursed than He was.
And He ate with people a lot.
If they are good enough for Jesus to love them, then maybe I could give them a chance. Maybe I could even pray with them and take care of them. Maybe I could even help them with their problem, while they help me with my pride and arrogance.
For whatever reason, God knew that Ananias was the right guy for Saul and that God would draw both of them closer to Him as they served one another.