Love Our Neighbor: A Lesson Taught by the Man Ananias
Oftentimes throughout this calendar year, it has been apparent in the world where we live that people of the church are seen in two different ways: ‘Religious’ OR ‘Spiritual.’ There have been several occasions when someone would say, “Christians are ‘Religious.’ OR “Your ‘Religion’.” OR “It would be good to be ‘Religious’ like ________.”
This entire conversation causes me to question: Are the redeemed souls of God called to become ‘Religious’ or ‘Spiritual’ persons as they encounter their neighbors. What does it really mean to be ‘Spirit-Filled’? Do those who live in community with the lost even display the “love your neighbor as yourself” the LORD spoke within His Holy Word?
- These are questions to contemplate each morning as we place our feet on the floor as we arise from our beds. &
- These are the questions to reflect upon each night as we place our bodies in our beds, preparing for a night of rest.
This morning, the Holy Spirit led me to the text: The Acts of the Apostles, specifically to a man named Ananias who was led through a vision to complete a specific action. Even though he feared losing his own life, Ananias followed the will of God—anyway.
Normally when we read chapter 9, we focus upon the conversion of Saul, but for this particular time, may we see Ananias, the man of God. Please read the entire account of Ananias and Saul’s narrative found in chapter 9, verses 1-19, pausing to focus on verses 15-19.
“But the Lord said to him [to Ananias through a vision],
(The Acts of the Apostles 9: 15-16 NASB)
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine,
[God spoke of the man named Saul of Tarsus]
to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
It is a Truth: God works in mysterious ways because we are told “His ways are not our ways” (a paraphrase from the Bible). Sometimes, God leads us to respond to the world surrounding us in strange, in peculiar, and in outlandish, loving ways. As we do, the world of humanity will scratch their heads and proclaim us ‘Religious,’ but in these instances, when the Holy Spirit leads us to perform certain tasks, we are more ‘Spirit-Filled,’ more ‘Spiritual’ than exercising our religion. When we act like Jesus toward our neighbors, we are more ‘Christ’-like than ‘Religion’-like, and we display to the watching world EXACTLY WHO RESIDES WITHIN US.
- Pay particular attention to what happens next, to how God’s servant Ananias reacts.
- Notice specifically how this man who was afraid to approach another—did anyway.
- See how Christians can obey God, even when walking frightened.
- Read how Believers can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, even when they are not privileged to know God’s entire plan.
“So Ananias departed and entered the house, . . . “
(The Acts of the Apostles 9: 17a NASB)
- The same house where the men who traveled with Saul of Tarsus had led him.
- The same house where Saul’s men took him after Saul became blinded by the light of God on the road to Damascus.
- The same house where Saul was told by the Lord through a vision about “a man named Ananias.”
- The same house where Saul waited in darkness, without nourishment or drink, after Saul had heard the voice of God calling him to BELIEVE.
“and after laying his hands on him said, . . .”
(The Acts of the Apostles 9: 17a NASB)
- Ananias touched Saul—the same man who persecuted Jewish Believers like him.
- Ananias touched Saul—the same man who had in his possession letters from the high priest.
- Ananias touched Saul—the same man who had authority to arrest and bring those who belonged to ‘the Way’ into custody.
Christian artist Jeremy Camp sings the melody “Keep Me In The Moment,” placing through song exactly how Christians need to walk through this life as we step toward eternity with God.
- May we be in the moment, so we do not miss what the Lord has for us to accomplish.
- May we be in the moment, so the surrounding world does not claim we are ‘Religious.’
- May we be in the moment, so our neighbors are loved, as Jesus commanded.
- May we be in the moment, so others can come to know Jesus as Savior & Lord.
- May we be in the moment, so we see the world surrounding us through ‘HOLY SPIRIT-FILLED, SPIRITUAL EYES.’
Pay particular attention to what happens next within God’s narrative, how God’s servant Ananias reacts to Saul, & specifically notice how Ananias, a man who was afraid to approach Saul, the persecutor of the church—did anyway.
See how Christians today can obey God, even when walking frightened, & let us finish reading how Believers today can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, even when we are not privileged to know God’s entire plan!
“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said,
(The Acts of the Apostles 9: 17-19a NASB)
‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And immediately there fell from his eyes [from Saul’s eyes] something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
and he took food and was strengthened.”
- Let us be ever-mindful how God’s plans ARE HIGHER than our plans!
May we never forget how God sent Jesus as a babe, as the Messiah to SEEK & SAVE the lost!
- As we walk through this season of Advent (and into the new year), Father, Remind each of us every morning how we are called to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS JUST LIKE WE LOVE OURSELVES!
May we experience ‘awe’ as we see the lesson how God led His servant Ananias to be a part of Saul’s conversion from persecutor of Christians to become the Apostle Paul.
- Let us recall how Ananias’ obedience to minister to his neighbor eventually led this same man changed by God to preach to the Gentile nation (of which we reside).
Let us praise our LORD for His Might, His Salvation, & His Direction!
- Let us respond obediently to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, even when God asks us to do a task that makes us quake in our boots. May we respond as Ananias & Do it Anyway!
As we traverse through today, let us recall this lesson of love taught to us by the man Ananias. Shall we—ALWAYS REMEMBER, THE COMMANDS OF GOD SUMMED UP INTO THESE TWO BIBLICAL STATEMENTS:
- “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6: 5 NASB)
- “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19: 18 NASB)