Acts 9 – Paul’s conversion

Scripture

Acts 9:17

“So Ananias went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road on your way here. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.””

Observation

So Ananias, Christian in Damascus, had just been told by God that Saul, a Christian-hater and persecutor, was on his way, and that, unbelievably, Ananias was to go and welcome him into his home. Understandably, he was a bit reluctant, and reminds God of what he’s heard about Saul. God reassures him, so Ananias plucks up the courage to go and meet the now blind Saul. It was the first word he speaks that really struck me – he calls him ‘brother’.

Application

To me, this is an amazing act of courage and boldness on Ananias’ part. He overcomes all his worries about this dangerous man, and welcomes him as a brother first of all, which must have spoken volumes to Saul about what it meant to be a Christian. God calls us to this kind of Christian boldness in whatever aspect of life we are currently in. The sensible choice for Ananias was to hide his Christianity and stay indoors, but he follows the Lords’ instructions boldly and fearlessly – can we do the same in our Christian walk, no matter what areas of life he calls us into? I pray that I can, and I am grateful to God that being a Christian in the UK today doesn’t get me killed, because that is not the case everywhere in the world.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the right to worship you as I want to in this country, and I pray for endurance and boldness for Christians in other parts of the world where making a stand for their faith is a dangerous thing to do. Thank you for the example of Ananias, who stepped out in boldness and spoke with love to welcome Saul as a brother – give me the same boldness to stand up for what I believe when required.

 

Acts 9-10

Scripture

 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.”

 Observation

 Okay, some context. Saul, Christian-hater and persecutor of anyone who even smells like they might believe that Jesus was the Messiah, has just had his conversion experience – Damascus road, blinding light, voice of Jesus, the whole works. He still goes to Damascus, but can’t function without his sight – we’re told he didn’t eat or drink anything for 3 days. At the same time one of the believers, Ananias, gets told by God in no uncertain terms to go and find this man who’s been torturing and killing his co-believers in Jerusalem, and welcome him into the fold. In v13-14 we learn that Ananias was unsurprisingly unsure about whether this was wise or not – but obedient to God, he goes and lays hands on him. And his first word to Saul is “Brother”.

 This is amazing boldness in my opinion – Ananias not only overcomes his urge for self-preservation, but speaks to Saul without prejudice and with openness, no matter what was going on in his head. How mature, how brave, how Jesus-like!

 Application

 Not only is the boldness of Ananias impressive, but also his trust in God, and his ability to hear God and perceive the value of someone who, until now, had done everything he could to make the Christians’ lives hard. There are so many things to admire here, and to seek to live up to.

 Prayer

 God, please change my heart to make it more like yours, and more like Ananias’ in this moment. Help me overcome fear when speaking to people about you, and help me to hear your voice about those I am in contact with; also, please would you enable me to see the value YOU place on people, especially the ones I find hard to like, and not my own value. Amen.

 

1 Samuel 25-31

Scripture:

1 Samuel 25-31

 

Selected verses:

30:6 – “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

 

Observation:

There are two interweaving stories in these chapters. Here’s a summary: David, accompanied by a large band of followers, is on the run from Saul, and he takes refuge in a Philistine city. When King Saul learns that’s where he is, he leaves him alone, and David and his band are given the city of Ziklag to live in. Meanwhile, the Philistine army amasses against Israel, and Saul gets scared. He gets so scared that he consults a medium to enquire of Samuel’s ghost what to do. Stupid move, as he doesn’t get the answer he wants; the LORD is against him. David and his followers march out to fight with the Philistines against the Israelites, but the Philistine commanders send him back to Ziklag, which has been sacked by marauding Amalekites, and all the families of David’s men have been carried off. After his men nearly turn on him, they go after the Amalekites and recover everything; David acts honourably throughout. Finally, the focus shifts back to Saul, who kills himself in the midst of battle with the Philistines.

 

The verse I have selected above details two responses to an awful situation – David’s men have had their home destroyed, and everything they cared about has gone. They respond in a totally understandable way. But David responds in the best way.

 

Application:

Some simple thoughts. When it seems as though our whole lives have been pulled out from under our feet, how do we respond? It makes total sense to give up and become bitter about what has gone wrong, and in many ways this is the natural response. But David, man of the Spirit, chooses a different path – he finds strength in God, even in the midst of his trouble. He has not denied the reality of the situation – two verses earlier he weeps with his men over the fate of their city. But he knows where strength can be found, and makes a choice to take everything he is feeling to the LORD.

 

Prayer:

Lord, I bring you my trouble, stress and feelings of unfairness. I know that you love me, and I know that you are good. I trust you to bring resolution to the things that trouble my spirit. Amen.