Throughout the Easter Season, the daily devotions have been written by members of Faith Lutheran Church. Today’s writer is Luetta Allen.
“Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment 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.” 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.” Acts 9:10-14
As a disciple from Damascus, Ananias would be exactly the type of person that Saul was hunting in order to persecute. Even though Saul was blind at the time, he was still potentially very dangerous to Ananias personally, as well as to his community of Christians. It is interesting that Ananias knew immediately that he was communicating with God himself. A first response of “Here I am, Lord” implies eagerness to hear and serve. However, he learns that the call is to minister to Saul. Then instead of eager obedience, he pointed out the evil of Saul. He even references Saul by the phrase “this man” instead of by name. He knew Saul’s name. If not by Saul’s reputation which seems to have preceded him, then by God calling Saul by name when he ordered Ananias to go to him. And yet Ananias would not acknowledge him as a person with a name.
It would appear that Ananias was less than eager. It would appear that Ananias was questioning not only God’s plan to send him to such a person and put Ananias in a dangerous situation, but was also questioning that it was a good plan to save Saul and use him of all people to advance God’s will. He responded to God with fear. Ananias shows himself to be very…human.
Let us pray: Dear God, you know our hearts; our desire to be what you want us to be, as well as our fears and frailties that sometimes get in the way. Help us to remember that you are in control and we can trust you. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
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