Day 308, or November the 4th. Are you willing
to obey? Our thoughts today come from Acts chapter
9, verse 11. The Lord told Ananias, Go to the
house of Judas on Straight Street, and ask for
a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
And now the big picture surrounding this verse.
The risen Christ confronts Saul of Tarsus, who
was a key figure in the death of Stephen, who
became the first Christian martyr. On his way
to persecute believers in Damascus, Saul is stopped
in his tracks, and his life is turned around
for the good. Ananias plays an important part
in his conversion, as he bravely visits Saul
in a house on the street named Straight. I have
visited this street in Damascus, which runs through
an indoor market, and which seems to have changed
very little in two thousand years. I can still
smell the spices on the market stalls, even as
I read this. Meanwhile, Peter takes a giant step
for a Jew, as he acknowledges that Gentiles are
acceptable too. And now, today's action step.
I love the way Ananias feels he has to warn God
that what he's asking him to do is dangerous,
as if God doesn't know. Following our verse for
today, if you read a couple more verses, verses
13 and 14, they remind us, But Lord, exclaimed
Ananias, I've heard many people talk about the
terrible things this man has done to the believers
in Jerusalem. and he is authorized by the leading
priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your
name. Of course, the difference between Ananias
and many of us is that he questioned God and
then obeys. Too often we question God and feel
we have done enough to stubbornly avoid obeying.
Stubbornness is all too often a stumbling block
that stunts our development in Christ. Are you
going to harden your heart like in Psalm 95 verse
8 and Hebrews 3 15? Or will you emulate Ananias
and, despite some reservations, obey and grow?