The context of Acts 9:17 is actually seen in Acts 8:1, 3 and Acts 9:13-16. The path Ananias was asked to choose was to approach a known persecutor of his friends and church leaders. This could be like going into a dark alley of a bad neighborhood! Yet, when God answers Ananias one question, Ananias goes. The absence of additional questions is the presence of faith in God.
The list of changes could continue to be rehearsed for days to come and the impact of these changes will be felt for generations to come. The fact is change is inevitable. However, the change with the greatest impact is not enabled via technology. The change above any possible change is only found in Jesus!
It is essential to live life knowing that my loving God knows how to get my attention. The truth is, Jesus is not so uninteresting that He loses our attention. It is actually that we chose to give our attention away to another. Let’s look at how able the Lord is at getting the attention of a type “A,” aggressive, and bold man like Saul.
When our gaze is so set on someone else or on personal circumstances, we will struggle to see the way to which God is leading. We will even struggle to see God Himself. Are we more concerned about our enemies…or our troubles…or the success of someone else – than we are on real solutions to those real problems?
Jesus is beaten and mocked relentlessly (John 19:2-3). The actual crucifixion was not enough. The beat down and humiliation was evil. Then the most cruel and heartless execution followed (John 19:17-18). Yet, death did not defeat Jesus. O church of God, rejoice in God’s grand work of salvation and consciously sharpen your focus on the empty cross and empty tomb!
Our relationship with Jesus can sometimes have a stronger base on the foundation of emotions than on the foundation of truth. When we build on the foundation of emotion in place of truth, we will wonder why we struggle with a strong relationship with Jesus and why we struggle with good decision-making skills.
