“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. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
- Acts 9:15-16
A story most Christians are familiar with is the conversion of Saul or Paul since most of the time we call him Paul. While his name is not changed in this story, we regularly turn to this as an epic transformation moment! This story is an unleashing of boldness, that I believe any one of us may need to experience to become on “fire” for the Gospel. Yet, before we get to Saul, we need to look at Ananias (not the one who lied and died earlier in Acts).
Ananias Emboldened:
The role of Ananias in this story is often overlooked. There are some good reasons as to why. Ananias does not appear in much of anyway after this. Saul/Paul becomes more prominent church leaders in the Roman world. And the whole story revolves around Saul’s conversion. But in order for Saul to have converted, been healed, and all that, someone in the church needed to be emboldened to reach out to him.
God could have chosen from multiple Christians in Damascus to reach out to the blinded and weakened Saul. Yet, God worked through Ananias because even in the face of fear and worry, Ananias had the kind of faith to literally approach death!
Word seemed to travel fast in the ancient world, even without Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to record and share every moment. Word traveled around about Saul. No doubt, his fervor to preserve Judaism against the new group known as The Way was evident in Jerusalem. He not only participated in the persecution of early Christians but was a willful volunteering champion of this mission. It was a holy act to preserve the Law. Perhaps he looked back on the story of Phineas zealously killed Israelites in the wilderness who deliberately committed idolatry and adultery. This was holy zeal!
Ananias had reason to be afraid. He heard the reports of the violent arrest and deaths of other believers. This zealous Saul with a holy fire in his gut and chains ready to drag every believer in Damascus to Jerusalem to stand trial.
And yet, God revealed and tasked Ananias to face his equivalent of Goliath. God revealed to him that Saul had been blinded and in need of healing via Ananias. God revealed to him that he would be safe even with the threat of Saul. Ananias still had to choose.
I say Ananias was emboldened for this task because he trusted in the revealed word of God to him. He had to trust and believe that Saul posed no threat, and even if he did, obedience to God was more important. Ananias needed to be emboldened to share the Good News of Jesus with Saul.
Saul Emboldened:
As a direct result of Ananias’ boldness and faith, we saw Saul healed, converted, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
God looked upon this zealous persecutor with grace and love in His eyes and said Saul has another purpose.
Saul… the chosen instrument of God. Emboldened with the Good News. Once zealous against Christ, nor zealous for Christ.
Need more be said! His conversion, orchestrated by God, would change the early church and shape the Church for good. His impact continues every time we read one of his letters in the New Testament. Entire theological traditions have been shaped by some of his words, written while filled with the Holy Spirit who sanctified and purified his ink.
You, Emboldened:
Ananias was emboldened to face one of his greatest threats with compassion and the good news of Jesus Christ so that God might further His Kingdom. Saul was emboldened in overcoming his faulty zeal for God and face his Savior humbled and meek to share the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman world so that God might further His Kingdom.
How might you be emboldened to face an obstacle of life with the good news of Jesus Christ so that God might work in you as a chosen instrument to further His Kingdom?
That’s a loaded question, but one worth sitting on and praying on. No matter our stage of life, it's never too late to join in God’s Kingdom work. No matter how dark you feel your past is God can bring light from you, for God took the persecutor and made him an evangelist!
Final Blessing:
So let’s bring it home a bit. Take some time and sit with the Lord, thinking through what kind of obstacle may be in the way and God is trying to use you for His Kingdom work? Do you have a community you are a part of, that shares life and good news with you and help bring you up when you're down?
After some time worship with this song, Reign in Us, and may it be your prayer to God to be His chosen instrument to share the good news of Jesus with others.
I believe God can take you and me, regardless of where we are in life, and be emboldened with His Gospel, and be zealous for Kingdom transformation on earth.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breath, and every heartbeat of your journey!
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