Acts 9:17
“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.’ ”
Ananias is a name that we read about three times in the New Testament. We read about one in Acts 5, who tried to cheat God and paid for it with his life. There was also a man named Ananias who was the High Priest. Then there was the third.
In Damascus there was a man by the name of Ananias. We know very little about him other than he was a disciple. In Acts 22, Paul describes Ananias as a devout observer of the law and one who was highly respected by all the Jews who lived in Damascus.
So, other than that, what makes this devout disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ so special? I think it is the fact that he was obedient in doing what he was called to do. He never preached to multitudes or performed mighty miracles (as far as we know), he simply placed his life on the line and went to one man, Saul, and laid his hands on him to receive his sight.
Whoopee! Big deal! At first glance it may seem to be a rather insignificant thing (other than the fact he could have lost his life) to pray for one single man. However, he had no idea who that man would become.
To Ananias, Saul was the enemy who had been sent with authority to destroy the fledging church in Damascus. To God and the rest of us, Saul would one day be known as Paul and would turn the world upside down for Jesus!
Never wait until there is a crowd to witness to. The very person you witness to may be the next Paul. Are you obedient to look for just one man?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil