Wednesday, January 25, But Ananias replied,
Our blog is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
He said, “Who are you, sir?”
The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.”
He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight.”
But Ananias replied,
“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.”
But the Lord said to him,
“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
All who heard him were astounded and said,
“Is not this the man who in Jerusalem
ravaged those who call upon this name,
and came here expressly to take them back in chains
to the chief priests?”
But Saul grew all the stronger
and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ. Emphasis mine Acts 9:1-22
But Ananias replied,
“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.”
I have many favorite passages in the Bible, and this is one of them.
Why?
Think for a moment.
Ananias knows who is talking to him.
God!
Not you or I,
God!
And yet Ananias feels he should advise the Creator of the Universe that He is making a mistake in recruiting Paul into The Way, which is what the early Christian followers were called at that time. The Way I have just realized, Holy Spirit, is living in “The Spirit World.”
I can’t believe Ananias could say this; I also feel Luke put this in Acts as a warning to all of us that when God calls us to do something, we should listen and do as God asks.
Doing as God asks, as we have reported many times, has been true throughout my, now, our life.
But,
Life when we do the will of our Father only becomes better, and gradually in my case, I learned that doing the will of my Father leads me to more Joy and Peace.
Paul retells the story of his conversion and mentions Ananias again; after that, Ananias is not mentioned.
Question.
Years later, do you think Ananias realized the wisdom of God and felt joy for the fact he, Ananias, by doing God’s will, set a force unlike anyone has ever seen before to lead in the building of His church?
Maybe we should use Ananias’s first response, “Here I am, Lord,” and have faith that God knows what He is doing and simply say “Yes” to the request being made.
If you want to join Team Jesus, learn”The nine” and grow in the Love, Joy, and Peace of the Holy Spirit by growing in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
I try to read a book with a short daily message about God every year.
This year I am reading, ON THIS DAY, 365 stories about Saints, Martyrs & Heroes by Robert J. Morgan.
We would like to summarize two stories in the book.
January 9, Bob Sheffey
Bob was a preacher, and it was said that he was a man of Prayer but couldn’t preach a wit.
An example: Bob ran into moonshiners; he dismounted his horse, knelt, and offered a long prayer to smash the still into smithereens. He rose, brushed himself off, and a giant tree fell on the still.
The owner rebuilt it.
Bob prayed again, and a flash flood wiped out the still.
January 15, Margaret Hillis
1941 Margaret Hillis, in China, is alone with her two children. The Japanese were closing in on the village.
Because her husband had left for medical help, she decided that because of her children’s young age, she and the children would stay put when advised by a Chinese Colonel to leave.
The town emptied, and Margaret tore out that day’s calendar page, which said at the bottom Psalm 50:3 What time I am afraid; I will trust in thee.
The next day was filled with the sound of distant gunfire, and the prayer at the bottom of the calendar was Genesis 51:21 I will nourish you and your little ones.
On the third day, with the sound of gunfire getting louder, Margaret read at the bottom of the calendar Psalm 56: 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall my enemies turn back.
Margaret couldn’t sleep that night, but the next morning all was quiet. Later that day, the Colonel returned with the news that the Japanese had left, and no one could figure out why.
We’re telling these two stories because I believe they clearly show the power of prayer.
We are living two thousand years after the death of Jesus, and I think many of us have been convinced, satan, that prayer is nice, and maybe God answers some, but closing down a still and protecting a family from an invading army is not in God’s power to do.
Well, surprise, surprise, the word ASK is used seven hundred and eighty times in the Bible.
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9
Don’t be like Ananias; know that God knows what He is doing, have faith that God will take care of you, and then give thanks and praise for all God has done and is doing in your life.
Once again, anyone who does not pray Psalm 91, A Prayer of Protection, is not taking advantage of the protection God will provide you and those you specify.
One last thought. If you have all your covid shoots to get protection from Covid, I hope you also pray Psalm 91 and get even better protection.
Security Under God’s Protection
1
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
2
Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
3
He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,
from the destroying plague,
4
He will shelter you with his pinions,
and under his wings you may take refuge;
his faithfulness is a protecting shield.
5
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the plague that ravages at noon.
7
Though a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
near you it shall not come.
8
You need simply watch;
the punishment of the wicked you will see.
9
Because you have the Lord for your refuge
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
10
No evil shall befall you,
no affliction come near your tent.
11
For he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go.
12
With their hands they shall support you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13
You can tread upon the asp and the viper,
trample the lion and the dragon.
II
14
Because he clings to me I will deliver him;
because he knows my name I will set him on high.
15
He will call upon me and I will answer;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and give him honor.
16
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and fill him with my saving power.
Emphasis mine because we wanted to show the protections God is willing to give. All we have to do is say the prayer and believe God will take care of you and those you pray for.
Easy!
the plague that ravages at noon.
7
Though a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
near you it shall not come.
Didn’t we just have a plague? I offered this prayer for everyone I knew, including you wonderful readers, and yes, many got Covid, but I know only one was hospitalized., and no one was on a ventilator.
If you want to learn more about this Psalm, we suggest you purchase Psalm 91, A Military Version: God’s Shield of Protection, By Peggy Joyce Ruth.
Note: I left the sentence numbering because each sentence is a chapter in her book. I didn’t understand this when I first read Peggy’s book.
Picture:
Jackman, Maine, is located near the Canadian border. It’s a beautiful area of Maine. The picture by Steve Rosacha
Please keep Snapping!
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, no people, please, because we have to get permission from that person to use their photograph; in the comments section at the bottom of our blog, tell me you want to submit a picture, and I will send you my email address in our reply on Thursday.
