"So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 9:17
Most are familiar with the famous story of Paul's (then Saul's) conversion. He was, while on the road to Damascus, struck blind by a brilliant light in the sky accompanied by the voice of the Lord who identified himself and gave him instructions. It is important to note that the reason Paul was on this road was to arrest and bring bound to Jerusalem any men or women who were followers of Christ.
What is not as nearly as often discussed is the resistance one of God's own had regarding Paul's conversion. A man named Ananias (not to be confused with the Ananias who was deceitful in his giving) experienced a post ascension appearance from Jesus, at which time he was told to go and minister to the blind and fasting Paul. Ananias objected and reminded the Lord that he was persecuting the church.
Beloved, how often do we place ourselves in judgment of those fellow created of God and the mission which we each were given by our savior? Why do we think that the Originator of all things needs to be reminded or instructed by that which he brought into being? It is a terrible thing to think that we can out think God. Ours is simply to obey. Paul would later allude to this when he wrote, "On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it?" Rom 9:20
Though we may not experience a vision of the Lord that instructs us regarding what we should do, we have his word that speaks loudly and clearly. And just like Ananias, we question the word, saying things like, "that may have been true back then but not now," or "man wrote the book and man is fallible so..." or "that person is a notorious _______ and will only tear up the church." This is as much of a mistake today as it was then. Jesus said, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;" Acts 9:15. We cannot know all of God's plan, particularly what he has planned for someone else. Suffice it to say that it is in his plan for you to carry his message to others that his plan for them and ultimately for all mankind may be brought to fruition. Let us leave the planning to him and focus on the doing assigned to us.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
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