OUR LORD WHO LEADS US BY HIS WORD 

Having previously looked at Acts chapter 9 verse 13, let's broaden the view to include verses  10 - 18 of the chapter. The passage goes like this; 

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, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

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.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 

This excerpt from the story of Saul's conversion to Christianity is a case study of the way God communicates with his bondservants and how effective bondservants of Jesus  interact with the Lord and heed His instructions. 

First, we notice that Ananias was classified as a disciple which means he was in training in the things of the kingdom of God at the time of this occurrence.

Next, we notice that God chose the method of a vision to talk with Ananias. This implies that Ananias was awake but in an open vision where he could see the Lord and hear Him speak.

We then note that the Lord called Ananias by name to get his attention and to this call, let's also note that Ananais responded by respectfully saying, "Yes Lord".

The Lord, having Ananaias' attention, gave him a street address and a directive to go to that address to ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. The Lord then gave Ananias some background information about the preparation he had already done on Saul which was the vision he saw that informed him that a man named Ananias would be coming to him to restore his sight.

Ananias was concerned about encountering a man with a reputation for being violently hostile to Christians and he humbly mentioned these concerns to the Lord.

Jesus told Ananias to go and call on Saul in spite of his misgivings and the Lord reassured Ananias that all was well because He had plans to use Saul in His kingdom. Here, the Lord outlined to Ananias the destiny that he had reserved for Saul and Ananias, a servant of the kingdom, understood what such a destiny would mean to the kingdom of God and he heeded the Lord's command. 

Arriving that the address on Straight Street, Ananias boldly went to Saul and, knowing his destiny in the work of Christ, called him  "Brother Saul" and prayed for him to restore His sight and  history was forever changed by the straightforward obedience of Ananias to the Lord's word.

Let us prayerfully seek to follow the humble example of Ananias who obeyed the Lord's directive even though it was potentially dangerous. Ananias trusted the Lord's assurances and was recorded into history as a servant of God who, when called upon at a critical point in time,  faithfully served his Lord.

Amen.