The Story of Ananias
Who? The Journey Bible (NIV) describes him this way; Ananias:
1. The husband of Sapphira; he was struck dead for lying to God 2. disciple who baptized Saul 3. The high priest before whom Paul was tried
in Jerusalem
So Ananias was in good standing with God, and then he wasn't,
and then he was, and then he wasn't. That sounds familiar doesn't it!
At one point in his life, Ananias was used by God in one of
the most significant transformations recorded in the bible-Saul converting from
God hater and Christian killer to a Christ following disciple willing to speak
out and suffer intensely in the name of the Lord. (Paul)
We all fall in and out of God’s favor, as we allow our human
desires and tendencies to control our thoughts and actions. His grace however, always remains and regardless
of our sin, we can be used by God.
Ananias was instructed by God to go to Saul. He did
not want to go. Ananias had heard about all the terrible things Saul had done
and of his murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He did as God called
him to do though, and through him, Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and was
changed.
It is difficult to imagine the Lord using us to deliver the
Holy Spirit to others in this way, but it happens. Regular God loving folks
like you and I are used as vehicles for God’s purpose all the time. We may need to approach scary and
uncomfortable people or situations for His purpose. We might be stretched far
beyond our comfort zone only to feel our actions are futile, but often we are
not meant to see the difference we make. The result of our actions may not surface
for years, and perhaps we will never know one way or the other, but it doesn't matter. We are to simply follow Jesus' example, and let the Holy Spirit guide us to where God wants us to be.
Live, Love, Reach out. Our actions may change the life of
another,....... for eternity!
Read/Listen to Acts 9:10-15
