Ananias experienced a vision.  The Lord came to him and told him to go to Straight Street…look for a man named Saul and lay hands on him so he will regain his sight.” (Acts 9:10-12).  “WHO ME? DO WHAT?”  Ananias did not want to go to Straight Street!

“But Lord, I have heard about all the evil he has done!” ( Such as seeking to kill disciples like me).  Ananias could not quite see it all in the way God saw it.

God said,”GO!  He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15).  So, Ananias went and laid hands on him, and Saul regained his sight and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Painting by Dennis Nolan from “The Blessing of the Lord” by Gary D. Schmidt)

Saul became Paul and went from killing Christians to becoming the greatest missionary for the transformation of the world for Jesus Christ.  Oh my gosh!  What could it mean for us to listen and obey the calling of the Lord to something that seems so very difficult?

I don’t know.  None of us know really.  It is just plain scary.  Some things in the world just feel so polarized, so difficult, so frightful.  We just want to find Easy Street!

This photo I took off the screen of my iPad of delegates at a church conference last week.  It happened close to midnight.  In the midst of great diversity of mind, persons came together to lay hands upon those in the room who were hurting.

I don’t know what may have happened in that actual moment.  What I do know is that only God has the power to change that kind of fear into some great love.  And it doesn’t happen on Easy Street.  But the miracle of it all is beyond our imagining!

Pondering…

Where are you experiencing division in our world?

Would you go to the difficult place if God called?

nk