What Have You Been Called To Do?

Doyou remember where I left off last Sunday? Saul, who had been persecuting thefollowers 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 namedAnanias. 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 toStraight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus namedSaul. He is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come inand place his hands on him so that he might see again.”

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

The Lord said to him, “Go, because I havechosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to thepeople of Israel. And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for mysake.”

Boy,I sure wish God would be that direct when He wants me to do something. Or maybenot.

It’seasy to ignore the little nudges you might feel when you’re wondering what todo 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 forHis strength to do His will.

Butwhat happens next with Saul?

So Ananias went, entered the house whereSaul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord hassent 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.” Atonce something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was able to seeagain. He stood up and was baptized; and after he had eaten, his strength cameback. (Acts 9:17-19, GNT)

Andthat was only the beginning for this man Saul, who would be known as theapostle Paul and go on to preach the Gospel to hundreds of people and write thirteenbooks of the Bible.

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

Whathas God called you to do?