7-21-23 The Legacy of Ananias

Daily Devotion: The Legacy of Ananias - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” —Acts 9:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-legacy-of-ananias/ - Listen What do you think will you be remembered for? What will your legacy be? In Acts 9, we read about a man named Ananias, whom God used to minister to Saul, later known as the apostle Paul. The Lord got a hold of Saul on Damascus and said to him, “Why are you persecuting Me? . . . It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:4–5 NKJV). Essentially, God was saying, “Saul, you have been under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and have been resisting Him again and again. Now your time has come.” Then the newly converted Saul said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (verse 9 NKJV). Afterward, God directed Ananias to seek out Saul and pray for him. But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name” (verses 13–14 NKJV). But God said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (verses 15–16 NLT). Ananias was understandably reluctant, but in obedience, he did what God had told him to do. He discipled the newly converted Saul, who, in time, became the legendary apostle Paul and probably the greatest preacher in the history of the Church. I thank God for the Ananiases of the kingdom, those who faithfully work behind the scenes. We rarely hear their names, but they faithfully pray, give, and labor away in obscurity. They are unknown to people, but they are God’s beloved.