Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Yesterday I confessed my thoughts about the intent behind including this verse in with Ananias’ instructions. It revealed nothing about the thoughts and intents of Ananias. It did however uncover things within myself that I might not have seen while I was in that emotional turmoil state.

We bind all kinds of negative thoughts and feelings because, that is not how a Christian should think. We learn how to act and think. Have we fully embraced the word of God in a manner which changes our hearts?

Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

A change of heart does not come upon us all of a sudden. We change in bits and starts. We embrace the changes that we see and are overjoyed. One change is not all the change that is required. Heaven forbid that we should ever become so comfortable with our Pilgrim Progress that we should give up trying to get closer to Christ in ways we never imagined.

What if you have embraced grace but have not embraced forgiveness and mercy? Can grace be all in you that it could be if you have not embraced all the goodness of God in all of His glory? I think not.

I have embraced the just side of God to the extent that I spurned forgiveness. Being on the right side of things does not make me right, it just allows me to be judgmental without mercy. I have not learned that great secret only God Himself seems to be able to master. He is perfect in all things without compromising any one part of Who He is to His creation.

God is equal in all His attributes and does not compromise who He is in any aspect. I on the other hand have not been able to keep from compromising the good within me because the evil which besets me.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

I am not sure just how much of the grace given to Saul helped transform him into Paul. I am sure that being called brother, being welcomed into the fold, even before that laying on of hands, might have had some impact. Being welcomed into the fellowship of believers can be very impactful. Do not make lite of a heart felt welcome, it is very important, especially in today’s church.

These are the Godly emotions upon which the Lord builds the bonds of faith, peace, and love. God can and does use our emotions to motivate us. It is not a manipulation, it is an understanding of our condition, and those things which lead to obedience of faith.

I have of late witnessed a number of times when men have attributed human emotions to God. I do not agree with it. I believe God is above petty emotions as we express them, but I do believe God understands them.

Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

The Lord has just given Ananias instructions to go and heal Saul. Of what value is verse 16 in reference to obedience of faith by Ananias? None. The Lord did not have to say this to Ananias in order to invoke His will in this matter. Telling Ananias to go and do should have been enough.

In my human condition, in my emotions, trying to quell the voices shouting in my head; no, no, this is a dangerous man, I hear something rather human. It is based on emotions, of which fear is a strong one in the moment. I hear myself thinking, “Well if you are going to make him suffer, let’s get on with it then.”

That’s petty, but it is a real emotion. One that is discovered only because of verse 16.