"Counterintuitive" by Stefanie Hendrickson RG111018
Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” and bring them back to Yerushalayim.
3 He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5 “Sir, who are you?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me. 6 But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”
7 The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 They helped Sha’ul get up off the ground; but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammesek. 9 For three days he remained unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
10 There was a talmid in Dammesek, Hananyah by name; and in a vision the Lord said to him, “Hananyah!” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, to Y’hudah’s house; and ask for a man from Tarsus named Sha’ul; for he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Hananyah coming in and placing his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 But Hananyah answered, “Lord, many have told me about this man, how much harm he has done to your people in Yerushalayim; 14 and here he has a warrant from the head cohanimto arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the Goyim, even to their kings, and to the sons of Isra’el as well. (Complete Jewish Bible)
***Have you ever read the directions on a set of instructions and thought, “that just doesn’t make sense. Surely it is the other way around.” Not being mechanically-minded, I often feel this way. What I believe to be the correct way of fixing something, usually ends up being quite different from how it really works.
Undoubtedly Ananias was confounded by God’s call to go to Saul. This was the man who was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (v. 1). Saul stood by, holding the coats of those participating in the murder of Christians. Saul was on a mission, with leadership approval, to imprison all the followers of Christ he could find. How could God possibly want him to go to Saul? Why would God want anything to do with Saul? It made no sense to Ananias.
God’s plans are not our plans—thank goodness! God knows things beyond what we know. And God is working to bring all things back to wholeness through Jesus by the power of the Spirit. He asks us, as He asked Ananias, to be a part of His work. What is God asking you to do today?
Hymn for Today: "Be Thou My Vision" by Charles Wesley
1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
3. Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
4. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Thought for Today: “If you love me, you will keep my commands; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. (John 14:15-17).
Please pray: For extension education in Mesoamerica.
***
Undoubtedly Ananias was confounded by God’s call to go to Saul. This was the man who was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (v. 1). Saul stood by, holding the coats of those participating in the murder of Christians. Saul was on a mission, with leadership approval, to imprison all the followers of Christ he could find. How could God possibly want him to go to Saul? Why would God want anything to do with Saul? It made no sense to Ananias.
God’s plans are not our plans—thank goodness! God knows things beyond what we know. And God is working to bring all things back to wholeness through Jesus by the power of the Spirit. He asks us, as He asked Ananias, to be a part of His work. What is God asking you to do today?
Hymn for Today: "Be Thou My Vision" by Charles Wesley
1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
3. Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
4. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Thought for Today: “If you love me, you will keep my commands; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. (John 14:15-17).
Please pray: For extension education in Mesoamerica.
***
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