The Right Time

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

THE RIGHT TIME

Acts 9:10-19

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.

NIV

Here we see God telling Ananias to go to the very person who has come to arrest believers and take them off to jail. Ananias knows about Saul and what he is has come to do, yet God what Ananias to god directly to him and lay hands on him. God assures Ananias the God has a special call on this Saul and that he is going to use him for the benefit of the kingdom, so Ananias follows the direction of the Lord, even though at first he does not desire to have anything to do with Saul.  We could learn that God has plans which simply are not part of our human ways. Left to himself and his human understanding Ananias would have hide from Saul, but when God intervenes and reveals his plan to Ananias, his world is turned upside down and he seeks out Saul in order that he can restore his sight. From a human point of view it would have been far better for the fellowship of believers in Damascus for Saul to remain blind. Yet God had other plans that would be far better for those believers. This is of course our life lesson. We might think in human terms which is the best course of action for our life, but God has a better plan. We can also be sure, just in the case with Ananias, God will make sure we know of his plan. It is certain God did not reveal this plan to Ananias before the time was right, before he revealed himself to Saul and blinded him and was lead into Damascus. God revealed his plan to Ananias when the time was right, when Saul was in place and was ready. This too may very well be the case in our lives. We do not know the future God has in store for us until he reveals it to us and he may not reveal it until the time is right. We also have to be as Ananias in that he did what God told him to do, even though it seemed against his human understanding. The ways of God are not our ways, but his ways are the best. It is best if we go his way, and go when the time is right.