Look for God's Plan in the New Year Acts 9:10-15

 I try to read different blogs from others each week.  One of my seminary professors (Bill Bryan) writes a weekly message for his church and I thought it would be good to share it with you all as well.  Bill is going to be one of the speakers at BOOST 2011 as well.  Boost will be on April 8-9 2011 so mark your calanders.  More Boost news to come soon!

Look for God's Plan in the New Year

Acts 9:10-15

Ananias is an often overlooked and underappreciated character in the Book of Acts. In Acts 9 where he plays an important role in the conversion of Saul. On the Damascus Road Saul had a miraculous encounter with the risen Christ that left him temporarily blind. This is where we pick up Ananias’ story in Acts 9:10-15, “^10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ ^11 So the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ^12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his^13 Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ^14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.’ ^15 But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. . . .’”

The rest of the story of course is that Ananias went. Paul’s sight was restored; he was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized. Paul became God’s Apostle to the Gentiles and the most prolific author of the NT. What if Ananias hadn’t done the hard thing God asked of him? Perhaps the Lord would have called on someone else, but Ananias would have missed a great blessing. How often do we feel like Ananias? God speaks to us about doing a hard thing—forgiving one who has hurt us; giving a tithe or offering; taking a place of leadership in our church; sharing our witness. Whatever hard thing God asks of you, respond like Ananias. Share your fears with the Lord, then do the hard thing in God’s power. Although Ananias is never mentioned again in scripture, I believe he received a blessing by doing the hard thing God asked of him. May you be similarly blessed in the coming new year as you look for God's plan even in the hard things he may call you to do with him for his glory.