Saul stayed at the house of a man named Judas in the city of Damascus. For three days, he could not see and did not eat or drink. While Saul was praying, he had a vision from God that a man named Ananias would come and lay his hand on him so that he might regain his sight. On the other hand, the Lord gave a vision to Ananias to go to where Paul was staying to pray for him. But Ananias was hesitant to go because he heard of the horrible things that Saul did to the believers in Jerusalem. Ananias did not know what Saul had gone through for the last three days. So the Lord encouraged Ananias saying, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." Upon hearing from the Lord, Ananias went to where Saul was staying and laid hands on him. Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained sight. Ananias then water baptized Saul. Since then, Saul never looked back and continued to live for our Lord Jesus until he went to be with the Lord in Heaven. (Acts 9:10-19).
By God's grace, Saul became a new man. Just as God changed Saul's life despite the horrible things he had done in the past, God also changed our lives. We were going to hell because of our sins, but God brought us to life through faith in the Lord Jesus. God used Ananias, who was an ordinary believer of Jesus, to pray for Saul. Just as God used Ananias' life to help Saul, God wants to use our lives to help others know our Lord Jesus. Ananias became a part of Saul's spiritual journey. May we also be willing to be used by God to help others to know our Lord Jesus. Many people out there, like Saul, are lost in their sins, and God is sending us to let them know about Him so that they may believe in the Lord.
Let us be encouraged today that we have a God of a second chance. No matter how lost we were in the past, God brought us into a new life. We are free from our past sins. We are now a new person that is free to live, praise, and worship our God. We don't have to live like we used to be. We have been freed by the grace of God.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) How did Saul receive a new life? Since God gave me a new life through faith in Jesus, how should I live today? Am I willing to be used by God to let others know about Jesus?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for giving me a new life. I praise and worship you for what you have done in my life. Thank you for saving me through my Lord Jesus. I was lost in my sin, yet you brought me to yourself. May you give me the willingness and the courage to share my faith with others and live according to your ways so that people may see you in me. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.