Day – 192

Accepting the newcomers with Christly love

Read: 2 Chronicles 21, 22; Psalm 10; Acts 9: 1-19

Scripture: Acts 9: 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.

 Observation: Ananias was a common name among the Jews. Ananias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Hananiah, which means “The Lord is gracious/shows grace”(Jer.28:1; Dan.1:6). Acts 9:10 says Ananias was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus. We do not know much about Ananias. Some say he was among the 70 disciples (Luke 10); Some say he was a gentile who followed Jewish law and customs. Later, Paul says, “He (Ananias) was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there” (Acts 22:12). Before his conversion, Paul knew nothing about Ananias. When Lord Jesus told about “Saul of Tarsus,” Ananias immediately recognized him and remembered his works against the Church.

In his first “Yes” to the Lord, Ananias was ready to do whatever the Lord would ask him. However, Ananias expressed his apprehensions when the Lord told him to meet Saul and help him regain his vision. Soon after the Lord clarified his doubts and explained his will for Saul (Paul), Ananias went to Saul without any further questions. Reaching where Saul was waiting for him, he accepted him with Christly love and told him, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ (Acts 22:13). Ananias explained God’s call for Saul’s life and led him to take Baptism. Saul, the persecutor, became a member of the Church he had persecuted. The simple obedience of Ananias helped Paul become a member of the Early Church and gain the vision for his apostolic ministry in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When God calls someone to become a Christian, we should not look at their history and past deeds. Instead, we should accept them to taste Christ’s love and God’s word. We must look at what God could do through the person in the coming days as s/he obeys Christ and grows in the Lord. Our love and acceptance of newcomers to the Church will help them remain and grow in the Lord. Ananias’s small act of kindness and obedience immensely helped the Church’s mission to take the Gospel to gentiles. Despite knowing a person’s past life and wrong deeds, are we ready to accept him/her if s/he wants to become a follower of Christ?

Application: When Jesus wants to add someone to his flock, I should not/cannot hinder God’s plan of salvation. I should remember how God accepted me and helped me grow in the Church fellowship and his word. As a disciple of Jesus, I will never neglect anyone who comes to Jesus (John 6:37). Instead, I will help them grow in God’s word and become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for helping many people to know about you through visions and dreams, even today. Lord, open my eyes and heart to strengthen the new believers with your love, word, and the Church fellowship. They, too, will become your disciples someday, I believe. Amen.

✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️  Day – 192