The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Acts 9:10 NIV
This is the assignment of a lifetime for Ananias. God called Ananias to set aside his fear of a Saul, a known persecutor of the church, and partner with God to do something great. God asked Ananias to go pray for someone he greatly feared.
How many things do we miss because of fear?
In case you and I miss the importance of this call, the scripture points us to the prophets of old by having Ananias’ response with, “Here I am, Lord” (Is. 6:8).
Let’s look back at some of the prophets of old who got their assignments in a similar way. God asked Jonah to go preach to an evil empire that he hated and feared. Jonah ran the other way (Jonah 1:1-3). Well, that is until God changed his heart in the belly of a whale. Because of Jonah’s eventual obedience, God saved a whole people group.
God asked Moses to go deliver His people from slavery. However, Moses had fled from that nation in fear of his life. Moses listed all the reasons that he was not a good fit for the assignment. Finally, he asked God to send someone else (Ex. 4:13). Because of Moses’ eventual obedience, God freed the nation of Israel.
Ananias had his doubts too, but God reassured him that He had a plan (Acts 9:15-16). When God reveals His plan, it is always an invitation to partner with Him. What was Ananias’ response? He departed immediately and did what he was told. Because of his obedience, the most prolific apostle of the New Testament was converted. The reach of the church expanded exponentially, and many Gentiles were saved. It is quite possible you and I are recipients of the gospel based on Ananias’ obedience.
Maybe like Ananias and the prophets of old, God has asked you to go preach to a person or people you fear or don’t like. If so, rest assured that God has a plan. He is inviting you to partner with Him. This may be the assignment of your life. How will you respond? Will you run the other way, like Jonah? Will you list all the reasons why you are not a good fit for the assignment? Will you beg God to send someone else, like Moses? I hope that my response will be immediate obedience, like Ananias. What could God accomplish through us if we set our fear aside and go?