Gods Child

When we left off yesterday, Saul was sitting in Damascus waiting for the Lord Jesus to send someone to restore his site.  He was deep in meditation and prayer as we find out from our Bible verse for today.  It seems that Saul is in the middle of his conversion.  He knows he is a sinner.

In drivers education we learn how to turn around in the middle of the road and go in the opposite direction.  It is called a 3 point turn.  This requires coming to a complete stop, and making 3 maneuvers that if performed correctly will get you going in the correct direction.  If these maneuvers are not performed correctly the first time then you will have to use more than 3 and this will take longer.  That being said, let’s look at Saul’s 3 point turn around.

First, he had to be stopped.  Jesus stopped him dead in his tracks on the road to Damascus.  Next he had to decide to make the turn and begin to maneuver in the correct way.  He began his turn around by continuing on to Damascus in a new way because now he is blind and instead of leading his men they are leading him.  We must be willing to be led.  Next comes the backing up part of our turn which requires us to look behind us.  Here is where we find Saul today.  He has backed up and is reflecting on his past.  This required a new look at what he thought he knew and what is truth. As we will see in these verses Jesus not only has to prepare us to receive, He has to prepare someone to give to us.  this brings us to Ananias.

Acts 9:10-19 (NKJV) 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

In verse 10 Ananias is more than willing to hear from the Lord.  When Jesus speaks to Ananias, he perks right up and answers right away.  Just like Ananias, we are ready to hear Jesus but are we ready to obey what He has for us to do?  Don’t feel bad, as we soon learn, Ananias was not real thrilled with what Jesus wanted from him either.  In verse 11 Jesus is telling Ananias to go and lay hands on Saul and just so there is no doubt He is very specific.  Jesus tells him where Saul is and exactly which Saul He is talking about.  Ananias then questions the Lord.  Don’t look so shocked we do it all the time.  Lord are You sure that you want me to go to Saul?  You know who he is don’t You?  He is dangerous to those of us who call on Your name.  He kills, imprisons, and tortures us and You want me to go to him?  Maybe I heard You wrong.

Jesus assures Ananias that he had heard correctly.  Jesus is always willing to reassure us when we ask Him to.  The next thing that Ananias does is the place that I sometimes struggle just as I am sure we all do at times.  Ananias does exactly as he is told, without delay.   I can not always say that. Can you?  When Ananias does what he was asked to do a miracle takes place and Saul’s sight is restored.

Now you would think that the first thing Saul would do would be to eat and sleep.  No, he gets baptized then he eats.  He has completed his 3 point turn in that now he is going in a new direction and his thoughts are concentrated on holy things and spiritual things instead of his own flesh and personal desires.  This is what happens to each of us during a Damascus road experience.  we see the error of our ways and are willing to stop and turn around.  This is what conversion truly is.  it is turning from the old life and going in a new direction, the direction that Jesus wants for us to go instead of what we want.

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