When Richard was growing up, he had a bully in his neighborhood, and most the kids were afraid of him. One day his friend and his mom saw him on the street, and his mom decided to pull up to him. His friend thought that his mom was going to blast him for being a bully, but instead, she offered him a hamburger. His friend said that the bully became his friend for life after that.
We all have a certain amount of fear to deal with in our lives. Imagine a villain, known for coming after the ones who call on the name of Jesus, coming to your town. Then Jesus comes to you in a vision telling you to go and heal him. This happened to Ananias! Ananias did just as we all would have, talked back! Ananias did as he was told, in fear, but also trusting Jesus. The man he healed was Paul, and you and I know about this story because of Ananias’s obedience! We all have a part to play in the Kingdom of God, so if you hear that still small voice telling you to make amends with the villain in the cubical next to you, do it! Maybe all you need to do is offer them a sandwich. An act of kindness is always worth the trouble.
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Acts 9:13-15
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