You are Here for a Reason
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus.” Acts 9:10-11
Ananias responded to the Lord’s call, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Knowing of Saul’s rage towards Christians, this was not a visit Ananias wanted to make. He probably remembered well one of Saul’s first attacks on Christians – when Stephen was stoned to death, and now Saul had been given authority to arrest any Christian he found. Yet, the Lord was placing Ananias there at that time for a very important reason– to meet with and teach God’s word and will to this man who had made it his career to kill Christians. Despite Saul’s history, God had chosen him to be a faithful believer.
The successful conversion of Saul to a faithful minister of God, renamed Paul, is well documented throughout the New Testament in the many letters he wrote to the churches of God. Ananias was an important part of God’s plan to do this.
We, too, may occasionally be placed in situations facing someone who appears to hate God and Christians. We can be assured that this was not by accident – The Lord specifically places us in those places at those times to witness the Lord’s love and glory. He has also promised, “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12.
Wisdom and zeal and faith impart,
Firmness with meekness, from above
To bear Thy people on our heart
And love the souls whom Thou dost love.
The Lutheran Hymnal 490:3