The Way to Go

  

DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE WAY TO GO

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

Why did Ananias argue with the Lord? Moses also argued when he was called to go back to a place that he thought was dangerous for him. This is the argument of Ananias. At first, he was thinking about this man who was persecuting the people in the Way, believers of which Ananias was. Why would he want to face the very man who would have him arrested and dragged to Jerusalem to be imprisoned? However, the Lord has been working in the life of Saul. We saw how the Lord came to Saul and brought him to his knees and blinded him. Now the Lord has given Saul this vision about Ananias coming to him to restore his sight. This was before the Lord appeared to Ananias and told him what he must do. God always has a complete plan, and each man has a part to play. Saul needed to pray in order to have this vision, and Ananias needed to obey. Of course, the Lord laid out his plan to Ananias which gave him the assurance it was not only safe to be in the presence of Saul, but it was going to be a holy experience of not only healing Saul’s vision but baptizing him in the name of Jesus. What we learn here is that we may not always understand what the Lord is doing in our lives, but if we ask him, he will explain it in full so that we can be confident that we are doing the right thing, being in the right place for the accomplishment of the plan of God in our lives. We think that all too often we do not ask the Lord what it is he wants us to do, but rather we just do whatever we think is right, which may not be as right as it should. Sometimes we might just make our own plans and then want the Lord to bless our plans, even without asking him for the blessing, we just assume he will bless us, and our plan. Of course, the Lord interjected himself in both the life of Saul and Ananias, appearing to them in some way. Are there times the Lord as appeared to us and we missed him, or his appearance? I know from personal experience that the Lord has spoken to me several times, and I have not argued, although I have asked for him to repeat himself so that I was sure that is what he told me. Two of the major times, were both physical moves, one from the city to the suburbs, with the Lord giving us our first new home, and the second was the move from the suburbs to another state, again showing and providing another new home and a calling into a fuller service of teaching and preaching the word of God. The Lord will always reveal his will for us, if we but ask and listen, and even at times, be willing to listen even before we ask, for the Lord will direct our paths, he will shine his light unto our feet showing us the way to the place he desires us to be, both in a physical and a spiritual sense.