Saul gets it straight

Acts 9:10-19 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Good Morning.

We remember that Saul had been in hot pursuit of Christians who had spread out from Jerusalem, fleeing the persecution they were facing. He went, full of authority and fury, to arrest them and bring them back to prison, but his journey was interrupted as he traveled along the Damascus road. Blinded by a bright light, he fell to the ground and heard the Lord Jesus ask him why he was persecuting Him. . . and then the Lord told him to get up and go into town, and he would be told the next steps. So Saul's men led him into Damascus, where we left him. . . in darkness. He neither eats or drinks.

Do you pay attention to signs? If so, what kind? Now I'm not just talking about traffic signs, unless you take into account the kind from the movie "L.A. Story" that were somehow aimed specifically at Steve Martin. Folks often look for signs when they are trying to make a decision about something. . . about a direction they should take, or a choice they should make. But then, there are those who just notice the signs that affirm what they want to be true-- Our friend, Saul, may have been given some Messianic 'signs' before the Damascus road experience, but if he had, he failed to act on them. But on this day, when the Lord clearly intersected his path, God certainly got his attention. Even then, though, he could have chosen to have his men lead him right back to Jerusalem. But the experience he had was so compelling, it became his day of reckoning; Saul had to consider what it all meant. 'Could it be that Jesus Christ was the Son of God?' he asked himself, as he prayed over the next three days. Prayed? Well, sure, remember that Saul had been a very pious Jew, who surely spent a great deal of time in prayers to Yahweh. Maybe he prayed a prayer like avowed atheist Lee Strobel prayed, "Jesus, I don't really believe you exist, or that you're out there. . . but just in case you are, I would want to know it, so show me." A good, honest prayer that God delights in answering.

Three days Saul waited. . . and during that time, God clearly spoke to him as well, showing him what he (Saul) was going to suffer 'for the Name'. Was he wrestling with God, laying down his strong hold of Judaism, plus or minus the Messiah who had come? Was he coming to terms with the notion that Yeshua was the One they had waited for, even though He didn't come as a conquering king, overthrowing the harsh tyranny of Rome? We can ask him what this time was like when we get to Heaven. . .

Meanwhile, God does not disappoint, but moves Ananias (yes, it must have been a popular name), to go to where Saul was, a house on the street called, "Straight," and pray for Saul. After some argument, Ananias does as he is instructed. . . but note that he got his orders in a vision--and he had to trust that vision (sign?) was from the Lord, which took faith and insight on his part. I find it so incredible that God announced His plans for Saul to Ananias--"Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." How can we ever doubt that God has a plan?! Even when His ways are difficult to fathom, He has a plan. Ananias goes to Saul and prays for him--scales fall from Saul's eyes so that, no longer in darkness, he accepts the Light of the World. . . eyesight restored. Beautiful. His life is now set straight on the street called "Straight."

In present-day Damascus, Syria, Straight Street (or in Latin, Via Recta), is the street St. Paul visited.

Signs. . . Saul's were so clear to him that they turned him around and headed him in the opposite direction. Be careful about what signs you choose to see and heed. . . be wise, dear friends. >>Do the signs you perceive draw you closer to the heart of God, or not? >>Do the signs bring order or chaos into your world? >>Do they line up with Scripture, and bring peace inside you? Ahhh. . . so much to ponder. ♪"Sign, sign--everywhere a sign..." ♬

Be prudent about the signs you read~

Christine (DiGiacomo)