Instruments of God

The involvement of Ananias in the conversion story of Saul of Tarsus gives us an example of readiness in God's service. Certainly, there was in him an initial hesitance, but he soon put that aside and did what the Lord told him. It reminds us of the Lord's own reluctance to go to the cross but how his will "realigned" with the Father's and became once again a determination to go to his Calvary appointment. Most significantly in this passage is how God had ordained Paul become an instrument, or vessel, in his hands. Whatever the metaphor, we are to be ready to be used by God and, importantly, accept that each of us is vital to the purpose of God as devised by him. Strangely prominent in Paul's commission was the reality that he would suffer for Christ. Saul had tried to eradicate the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Now, he would suffer trying to spread the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Even in times of ease for the church, its people should be ready for greater suffering, because in it they will find a strange joy as they share in Christ's sufferings.