In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.” (Acts 9:10–11, NIV 1984).
My Musings – What if God led you to do something you felt was extremely dangerous. Would you do it? Ananias wasn’t quite sure. “‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.'” (Acts 9:13–14, NIV 1984). And in effect he was half asking, “are you sure” and half telling, “you must be sending me to the wrong man.”
“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.'” (Acts 9:15, NIV 1984). So, he went, perhaps recalling God’s words to Joshua. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever [He sends you].” (Joshua 1:9, NIV 1984).
In these passages God chose two men. Saul, of course, to be “[His] chosen instrument.” That’s made explicitly clear. But for Ananias it is implicit. Paul, who went on to become the Apostle of grace and perhaps the second most famous person of the Christian faith. Ananias, who is not heard from again except for later when Saul (renamed Paul) recounted his conversion story to the angry mob in Jerusalem. Not forgotten by Paul, but more importantly, not forgotten by God.
My Advice – Paul was the leading man in this passage. Ananias, merely a supporting actor. A small part? Konstantin Stanislavski, dubbed the father of modern acting said, “there are no small parts, only small actors.” In God’s Kingdom, there are no small actors. When we are called to play a part, whether big or small, safe or dangerous, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23–24, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 