Day 1087: A chosen instrument - Acts 9 vs 10 - 22

10-12 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13-14 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.” 15-16 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. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17-18 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. 19-21 For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 9:10-22 English Standard Version

One can imagine Ananias' concern when the Lord told him to go a certain street of the town and look for the man named Saul. And we see that the Lord understood those reasons. Yet Jesus had a far greater purpose in mind for Saul. What does He say of Saul in vs 15-16?

He said that Saul was a chosen instrument. As in a carpenter's wood shop, where there are tools designed for specific tasks. Saul was going to carry His name before the Gentiles, and would even testify to Christ before kings! And he would also preach Christ to the children of Israel. Now if the Lord had stopped there, would we have been willing to be a Saul for Jesus? But Jesus went on to say “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Many years later, this Saul, now called Paul, would write: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I've been constantly on the move. I've been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I've laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I've known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

What it is to be a chosen instrument for the Lord! And this has been true of many of the great missionaries ever since. They went to far away places to carry the name of Jesus, but it was always at great personal cost. And so Ananias went in obedience to God, and Saul was called to preach the gospel. He was baptized and filled with the Spirit, and immediately began to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. The scales that had covered his eyes were truly removed.

And what an impact it had on the people of Damascus! (vs 19-21) So it is with every dramatic conversion. People are amazed when those who were once so fiercely against Christ become His most able spokesmen. Truly Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)