God's Glory Church

“Ananias… laying his hands on him, said: “Brother Saul, the Lord… has sent me.” — Acts 9:17

“Lord, send me anywhere, but not there!” This is how I prayed when I was still a teenager and was about to go abroad to study for a year. I didn’t know where I was being sent, but I knew very well where I didn’t want to go. I did not speak the language of that country and had many prejudices against the customs and people. So I asked God to send me somewhere else.

But God, in His infinite wisdom, sent me there. And now I’m glad that everything turned out this way, and not otherwise. Forty years later, I still have good friends in that country. When I got married, my best friend Stefan came to my wedding from there. And when he got married, I flew to him to repay the debt of friendship. And soon we are going to meet again.

When God makes a change in the heart, wonderful things happen. Such a transformation can be illustrated by two biblical words: “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17).

They were spoken by Ananias, a Christian who was commissioned by God to heal Saul’s sight shortly after his conversion (vv. 10-12). Ananias initially resisted, because he knew about Saul’s cruelty in the past: “I have heard, Lord, from many about this man, how much evil he has done in Jerusalem to Your saints” (v. 13).

But Ananias was obedient and left. In the person of Saul, he found a new brother in faith. Saul became known as Paul, and the Good News about Christ spread with great power. The Lord is making amazing changes!

Is there a place in your life where the Lord is calling you to change? How can you support a new convert today?

Lord Jesus, thank you for the love that changed my heart. Help me spread it to others.

Author: James Banks