Thursday October 15, 2009 SUFFER FOR ME
A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" Ananias answered, "Yes, Lord." The Lord told him, "Get up! Go to Judas' house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He's praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight." Ananias replied, "Lord, I've heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem. Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison." The Lord told Ananias, "Go! I've chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel. I'll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name." Ananias left and entered Judas' house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized. After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him. Acts 9:10-19 Yes, I know this is the same verses I used yesterday, but - it's kind of a continuation. One of the hardest things for me is following through on a difficult assignment the Lord gives me; especially if it's a personal message for someone else. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for Ananias to take a step of faith and talk to Saul about Jesus. Following a vision is a difficult assignment, especially when it's a little risky. When God gives a vision, He doesn't always give specific orders as He did with Ananias; He simply says, "Go"! Yet, when He does give specifics, as He did with Ananias, it's best to do just that - "Go"! Can you imagine where we would be today had Ananias decided to stay home? Although that spoke to me, I guess the thing that really got to me in this passage of scripture were these words, ".'And I will show him how much he must suffer for me.'" The Lord didn't say how much He would bless him or how prosperous He would make him. Nope, He wanted him to know how much he would suffer for Him. Well, you may not have heard those words, but you may have experienced the results and felt that somehow you just always seemed to come up a little short of the call in your life. Be encouraged. As James said, "Count it all joy." We will suffer for the cause of Christ if we are committed to the call. If there ever was a person who lived though a time of "mocking" God it was Saul of Tarsus. He killed Christians in the name of God. Now, that is pretty serious mocking if you ask me. Yet, God had a plan for him. He was to become Paul, an Apostle, appointed and anointed by God to give the message of Good News to the Gentiles. Paul's calling was risky. He was to minister to the very group of people he had once persecuted so badly and he suffered in order to accomplish the call. He was committed. Most of us will never experience the hardships Paul endured. However, we may suffer the hardship of being misunderstood, but that's okay if we stick to His plan - His understanding is enough. Father, I can't thank You enough for this message of encouragement. Thank You for the reminder that suffering is often a big part of completing the work You give us to do. I thank You for the rod of discipline that You stretch out to prod us back onto the road when we begin to get discouraged. Help us keep our eyes on You! Let the scales fall! O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
