In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
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 holy people 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 proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to 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. (Acts 9:10-17 NIV)
When Saul was in the middle of persecuting and killing the “Followers of the Way”, as Christians were then called, Jesus appeared to him. Saul was blind when he went to the home of a follower and said that he would be baptized and be a follower as well. After he was baptized, the Lord gave him his sight back, and gave him his biggest challenge – to go and serve alongside the very people he had been persecuting.
Can you imagine what that first meeting between Saul and the followers must have been like? Did he face the absolute disbelief that this killer could follow Jesus as well? Even more, what must each day after have been like for Saul/Paul? Was it a constant warring of his old self with his new self? Was the temptation for violence and hate and bigotry always in his new saved-by-Christ body?
I think probably everyone responded pretty much the way we would today. We are suspicious of people when they are radically changed and called by Christ, especially when we have a history with them. We expect them to react and behave in their old ways. We apply the same standard to ourselves. We think “I cannot change. I always say the wrong thing. I never stand up at the right time.” Then, as now, it is only through Christ that we can believe better of each other and ourselves.
Christ calls all of us, not because we are great, but because with Him we can be great. It is His power that transforms and enables, His strength that gives us hope in Him, each other, and in ourselves. It is His love which allows us to tackle each new day.
This is a new mission in Covenant Players. Our units were reassigned in August, and we are now on the road in our new units. We will work hard on our craft, growing in acting and directing in order to bless the audiences at our performances. We will spend hours on the phone contacting people, offering our ministry for their churches, schools, prisons, and nursing homes. We will spend a great deal of time every week traveling from town to town. We will rejoice in the blessings. We will pray together as we face challenges. We will make mistakes, be hurt by others, forgive and receive forgiveness. We will be strengthened and upheld by the Spirit of Christ, and take each new day as new grace and mercy to love one another.
Saul became Paul. Who will you become?
By Penni Jo Blatterman
