Used As a Vessel of Honor

Scripture — Acts 9:13-15 (NRSV)

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.”

Devotion

It is said that in the fifteenth century the sculptor Michelangelo was asked by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. On the Pope’s initial request, Michelangelo refused the project, as he was really a sculptor and not a painter, and many rivals expected him to fail.  However, Pope Julius II was persistent, and Michelangelo was successful in the task. The project was completed within a tedious four years, yet its beauty is still admired to this day!

In today’s text, though the situation was not fully the same, the request from God to Ananias was met with much hesitation, similar to Michelangelo’s response to the Pope’s request.  Ananias probably feared his life more than anything else as it related to the assignment from God; so, he was cautious, for when logic fails and things don’t make sense, skepticism can take control.

Ananias was indeed a faithful servant of God, and he was very aware of Saul, for good news travels fast but bad news travels even faster. He had knowledge of Saul’s behavior—leading the persecution in Jerusalem which had dispersed so many believers in that city. Furthermore, Saul had come to Damascus with authority to arrest believers from Jerusalem who had fled there for refuge. Yet, Ananias discerned from this vision that God had truly placed this assignment on him. It seemed illogical and it felt unsafe, yet when servants of God truly press into the leading of Almighty God and listen to God’s voice, He affirms our assignment to go forth with ease.

In his reassurance from God, Ananias was protected with a certainty of which he was assured that the hand of God was guiding his life.  He had an intimate conversation with God, which was open and honest, as he said, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem” (9:13). Yet God overruled that negative apprehension by letting Ananias know that in spite of Saul’s former record as a persecutor, Saul was a chosen instrument, to be a messenger to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Similar to Ananias, we should be obedient to the voice of God, even if the assignment seems illogical. God had also given Saul a vision as well, that a man named Ananias was to come and to place his hand on him that he might receive back his sight.  Then Ananias released his hesitancy as God had given the approval. He went and declared to Saul, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus….has set me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Here we see that Saul was immediately embraced in friendship, as a brother, as a servant of God. Then Ananias laid hands on him, anointing him for service as he received his sight and was baptized.

Also, like Ananias, it may be uncomfortable when we receive an assignment from the Lord which is illogical or farfetched and we yearn for more clarity and positive direction.  God promises to show us the way, protect and guide us (Psalm 32:8). As a result, we have no need to fear, for then we will learn what trusting God is really all about.  Ananias was able to honor the Lord in completing his assignment.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Work and Christian Identity (Acts 8-12).