What if God Does Save "This One" (Part 2)

What do we do after God saves the one we thought was un-savable? If it's not someone we know on a personal level, we might be amazed and think how great is the love and grace of God. If it's someone we know personally we might really be celebrating over this "lost" one who has been found. But what if the "one" who has come to know Jesus as Savior is someone who has hurt you or someone you love deeply? What if this person was responsible for the death or permanent injury of someone you love? What if God calls you to minister to this person in some way? It sure is easier to rejoice from a distance in that case. But it just may be that God calls you come along side this person in some way. Well, what then?

That is what happened to Ananias. We really don't know much about him except that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. We also know that he was very acquainted with Saul and he was afraid of him because he knew that Saul was a ruthless persecutor of Christians. The Lord called Ananias to minister to this terrorist Saul.

Acts 9:10-12 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.

He must have been shocked, frightened and bewildered. And I'm thinking he wasn't too happy that Saul was dreaming about him!

Acts 9:13-16 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Then the Lord said "go!" It was one thing for Ananias to dream about Saul, it was another to actually go to him and minister to this murderer! I'm sure he personally knew of families that were forever changed by Saul's persecution. Yet, he answers the Lord's call to minister to Saul. But also implied in these verses is that the Lord is calling for Ananias to forgive and love Saul. There is no way Ananias would have the ability to serve Saul with unforgiveness or hate in his heart. Acts 9:17 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." Yes, this sure seems impossible...first for Saul to become a follower of Jesus and second for Ananias to love, forgive and be a servant to Paul.

The good thing is we don't do this impossible work through our own willpower or strength. The only way we could ever do something like this is because as believers we have the Spirit of Christ in us and it is through that Spirit that we have the power to do the impossible that the Lord calls us to do.

At some point in our faith journey we will be called to do the impossible in some way. Although it may be frightening, we need to trust God and HIS promises that He will do through us what we could never do on our own.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and one granddaughter! She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 100
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.