Humble Disciple. Heavy Calling.
Scripture Focus: “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.” (Acts 9: 10)
The God who disrupts.
You'd agree that one of the most compelling conversion stories in the Bible unfolds in Acts 9.
On his journey to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus had a profound encounter with God. Saul, notorious for persecuting Christians, persisted in this relentless mission, mirroring his actions in other regions.
Approaching Damascus, God called him by name and questioned the purpose behind his unrelenting persecution. Recognizing the divine nature of the encounter, Saul inquired, "Who are you, Lord?" In this exchange, God unveiled His divinity, exposing Saul's spiritual blindness and foreshadowing a three-day physical blindness that would render him helpless.
This was the beginning of Saul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle.
To pave the way for this change, God called an unassuming disciple to take a central role, bringing freedom and healing to Saul.
That humble disciple was Ananias.
Ananias of Damascus.
“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, “Behold, I am here, Lord”’ Acts 9: 10.
Scripture reveals that Ananias was a disciple in Damascus.
Take a second to think of the significance of the word 'disciple' in this account; it was not merely a label but a deliberate title highlighting Ananias' role as a devoted student and learner.
The Bible was clear to not call Ananias an apostle, a title typically used to describe a teacher with extensive experience in God's teachings and someone who trains disciples.
Ananias was simply a humble student, still, God called him in a vision to restore sight to Saul.
“Here I am”.
What touched me deeply was Ananias's immediate and heartfelt response, "Here I am, Lord," even before fully comprehending the task God had for him.
You’d also recognize that God called Ananias's name only once— "Ananias," in contrast to the double call of Saul's name— "Saul, Saul" in Acts 9: 4. This choice reflected God's trust in Ananias's intimate recognition of His voice, knowing that he would willingly say yes without needing all the details.
Saying ‘yes’ even when uncomfortable.
According to scripture, when receiving the assignment, Ananias double-checked to ensure he had heard correctly. He questioned if God had called him to go to Saul, the man with a sinister reputation and the backing of chief priests. God directly addressed his fears in response, revealing Saul as a chosen vessel destined to be His messenger to the Gentiles.
Impressively, there was no prolonged back-and-forth between Ananias and God. Instead, Ananias obediently went to meet Saul, and when he met Saul, he met him with a warm expression, "Brother Saul."
The greeting "Brother Saul" expressed brotherhood.
By addressing Saul as "brother," Ananias indirectly affirmed God's blessing on him, acknowledging Saul as an integral part of the Christian community despite his notorious reputation.
“For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” (Acts 9: 16 – 17)
Counted as one of the mighty six.
Can you appreciate that this humble student-learner was chosen to 'remove the scales from the eyes' of the soon-to-be apostle Paul, messenger to the Gentiles?
Can you imagine the thoughts racing through his mind as he went to Judas's house to meet Saul?
Can you imagine the possible heaviness he felt knowing he was to lay hands—a gesture symbolizing he had the divine power of healing?
What power.
“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” (Acts 9: 18 – 20)
Following this remarkable miracle, Ananias gracefully exits the biblical narrative, with Acts 9 marking the first and final mention him.
Yet, in his departure, he leaves such a touching legacy, standing shoulder to shoulder with significant figures such as Samuel, the selector of David, and John the Baptist, the baptizer of Jesus—a resounding testament to his role as a clear representative of God and His power.
Ananias also finds his place in the sacred sect of the powerful six prominent men in the Bible who share the distinction of declaring 'Here I am' when directly called by God to stand as His representative. He’s in rank alongside Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and Isaiah.
God still calls the unassuming.
What’s encouraging today is: the God who called Ananias is still making quiet moments with Him count. He sees us when no one else does.
He's still calling us, not to fame or the spotlight, but to heavy assignments laced with His favor.
This God? He knows our name and nature and still trusts us with significant, sacred assignments simply because He has our backs.
This God calls those who know Him intimately because He knows we will pick up on His nudges, and little signals amid all the noise in our lives.
And you know what? He's confident that we'll give him a "yes," even when wrestling with our fears and doubts.
It's a trust that runs deep.
The Spirit of Ananias.
Today, I earnestly pray for the spirit of Ananias to recognize the voice of God quickly and easily in the ordinary moments of my day.
This skill can only be developed and refined through daily intimacy with God.
I desire for the spirit of Ananias to say yes to divine assignments, even when they feel weightier and more sacred than I would personally choose. Even when I am uncomfortable.
I yearn for the spirit of Ananias to minister to those who are complicated and prickly in nature. They deserve freedom, healing, and covering of the gospel. They deserve love, delicacy, and warmth.
I am working on cultivating the spirit of Ananias to stand in the gap for others, even when their assignments may be more popular, and far-reaching than my own—acknowledging that the power behind our callings originates from the same God.
- Dentrecia