Visions for Others

Acts 9:10-12 (ESV) – Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.'

We committed Christ-followers often want to hear a message from God for ourselves. It is good to want to do what God wants you to do. Yet, the Bible is filled with accounts of people who did not hear from God for themselves but for other people, instead. I believe God has intentionally created an interdependence among his people. The question is if I am willing to play my part even if it is not ultimately about me.

The story of Ananias is a great example of this. At the beginning of Acts Chapter Nine, Saul (later called Paul) was a hater of the church on his way to Damascus to throw Christians into prison. Jesus encountered him in a dramatic way and told him to go to the city where he would be told what to do. (Acts 9:6) Jesus could have told him everything he needed to know then. He certainly had Paul’s attention, but, instead, Jesus chose to use someone else: Ananias.

         1)   A summons from Jesus has one right answer

Jesus called Ananias by name as he did with many others throughout the Bible. Ananias responded like many of them with the right answer: “Here I am” (translated, “Here am I,” in the King James Bible.) These words indicate a total commitment to do whatever God called him to do. Are you ready to say, “Here I am,” if God wants to use you to speak to others?

          2)   Sharing has risk but it is much less than not sharing

Ananias had heard about Paul’s violence against Christians. He had reason to be afraid. You may be afraid to share God’s message with others because you will not know how they respond, but, like Paul, they may not hear everything God wants them to know or experience all the good God has for them if you do not. Ananias was able to share the mission God had for Paul but God also used Ananias’ hands to bring sight back to Paul and fill him with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:13-18)

          3)   Those to whom you share may have far more influence than you

We never see this Ananias mentioned again in the Bible, yet the Saul he spoke to on God’s behalf went on to write nearly half of the books of the New Testament, plant churches throughout the eastern half of the Roman Empire, and lay the theological and practical foundations of the church we still follow today. Your obedience to share God’s message with others may not bring you fame, but you could be a part of helping them having a huge impact for eternity. Be ready for God to use you.