What Have You Been Called To Do?

Do you remember where I left off last Sunday? Saul, who had been persecuting the followers of Jesus, had been struck blind on his way to Damascus.

Today, we’ll first meet Ananias, whom God had chosen to heal Saul’s blindness.

There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. He had a vision, in which the Lord said to him, “Ananias!”

“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

The Lord said to him, “Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he might see again.”

Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem. And he has come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who worship you.”

The Lord said to him, “Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel. And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for my sake.” (Acts 9:10-16, Good News Translation)

Boy, I sure wish God would be that direct when He wants me to do something. Or maybe not.

It’s easy to ignore the little nudges you might feel when you’re wondering what to do in a certain situation. But when God calls your name and says, “Go” – well, we still tend to ignore Him or make excuses, don’t we? All I can do is pray for His strength to do His will.

But what happens next with Saul?

So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me—Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At once something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptized; and after he had eaten, his strength came back. (Acts 9:17-19, GNT)

And that was only the beginning for this man Saul, who would be known as the apostle Paul and go on to preach the Gospel to hundreds of people and write thirteen books of the Bible.

When we think about what God called Ananias to do, his assignment was much less than Paul’s. God called Paul to totally turn his life around, accept Jesus as his one true Savior, and share his testimony everywhere he went.

What has God called you to do?