"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." Acts 9:17
After God instructed Ananias to go to Saul, a man who had been on a mission to kill Christians, and lay hands on him so that he could see in Acts 9, Ananias had a choice to make: would he obey God or not? If Ananias refused to go, God would have sent someone else because Paul was his chosen person to help spread the message of Jesus, and Ananias would have missed out on being a part of sending out the greatest missionary ever to live.
After God instructed Ananias to go to Saul, Ananias immediately went (verse 17). He laid hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (verse 17). When he did this, "something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized" (verse 18). As a direct result of his obedience, Ananias played a part in sending out Saul, who would be instrumental in spreading the message of Christ and would write over half of the New Testament.
Friends, I have heard it said that you never know what hangs in the balance of your obedience to God. It is so true. What if God wants to use you to impact someone’s life who is far from Him? We are not responsible for their response, but we are responsible for our obedience. Let’s commit to obeying God and sharing our faith with whomever God calls us to share our faith with. After all, you never know what hangs in the balance if you will obey and share your faith.
Who is your Saul? Who is someone you know far from Christ and so unlikely to turn to Christ? Please do not give up on them. Pray for them right now. Ask God for opportunities to share your faith with them. When He gives you opportunities, act in obedience. Trust that God will continue working in that person’s life.
"So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall."
