Ananias’ Frightening Mission in a Vision from God

Acts 9:10-16

God is purposeful and leaves no stones unturned. In a vision at Damascus, He spoke to a certain disciple named Ananias (v.10) and told him to get up and go to the street called Straight. There, at the house of Judas, ask for Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying (v.11). I imagine he was thanking God for breaking the shackles of bondage to Satan and turning him to The Way of God by believing in the same Jesus he had been persecuting. At the same time God prepared Saul for Ananias’s visit, showing him in a vision that Ananias was coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight (v.12). 

Ananias did not want this mission; he was frightened by it. He told the Lord that he had heard from many about this man and how much evil he had committed against saints of God at Jerusalem (v.13). Here he is in Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who “confess You as Savior” (v.14). However, the Lord told Ananias to go, saying that He had purposely chosen Saul as His vessel to bear His name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel (v.15). The Lord declared that He would show Saul how many things he must suffer for His name’s sake (v.16).

Like Ananias, you may have been given a mission and are afraid. Today, put your trust in God; He’ll give you what you need to fulfill His purpose. 

Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”