Acts 9:1-19
New
International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
9 Meanwhile, Saul was
still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters
to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to
the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As
he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around
him. 4 He fell to the ground and
heard a voice say to
him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?”
Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be
told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with
Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up
from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was
blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a
disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he
answered.
11 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. 12 In a vision he has seen
a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias
answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has
done to your saints in
Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with
authority from the chief priests to
arrest all who call on your name.”
15 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. 16 I
will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
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.” 18 Immediately,
something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up
and was baptized, 19 and
after taking some food, he regained his strength.
The
first thing I have always thought while reading this passage is that people who
think that they have sinned so much that God could never forgive them should
take note of this scripture. Saul was a
murderous man, not to just anyone but to the chosen people of God. Although it is not recorded that he picked up
the stones that killed Stephan, he was certainly there cheering those who did
on. Yet Stephen, as you may recall,
prayed a prayer that day and God honored it.
Acts 7: 59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen
prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”( 60 Then
he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not
hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
God not only answered the prayer, He allowed Saul
to become one of the great leaders of the Christian faith.
The second thing I have always thought when I
read this scripture is that anytime we as Christians think there is no hope for
some people, we need to read this scripture.
I would have so much been like Ananias, very reluctant to go near this
man named Saul. Yet Ananias listened to
the Lord and did as He was commanded to do and was blessed because of it. We do, however, need to be cautious of those
who claim to be Christians yet are teachers of false doctrine. We must always be on the outlook for those who
could lead us astray. Ananias was one
that heard a voice from the Lord. He
prayed regarding what he thought that he had heard and he received an
answer. We must always be ready to do as
the Holy Spirit leads us, lest we fall short of what the Father has in store
for us. We must never discount someone
that God has put into our lives to minister to.
Today as I read this another thought came to my
mind. The Words that Jesus said to Paul
on that infamous road to Damascus. “Why
do you persecute me?” I have never
thought much about these Words but they hit me today. Every time one of our fellow Christians or we
ourselves are persecuted it is the same as persecuting Christ again. Yet, Christ forgave us on that cross, He went
there for you and for me. He went there
for those that were persecuting Him and those that would persecute Him. Every time we suffer, Christ is suffering
with us. I don’t know about you but
somehow that brings much comfort to my soul.
I have to remember that if I am rejected, spat upon, hurt, destroyed,
Christ is right there beside me suffering right along with me. Thank
you Father, for your forgiveness, your grace, your mercy, I ask that you supply
me with those same traits that I may be able to say, “Father forgive them, for
they know not what they do”. In Jesus
most Precious and Holy Name I pray, Amen.
As you seek Him today, may you find comfort in
knowing that He is with you, each step of the way.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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