Daily Devotional, Nov 24, 2023 Beautiful eyes
"Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
John 20:21
A foreign object in one’s eye causes discomfort no matter how little it may be. It could be as tiny as a dust or eyebrow hair, but it sure can make anyone tear up and feel uncomfortable. In the Philippines, one of the common practices in removing debris from the eye is asking someone to blow it off. Yes it is unsanitary but most claim that it works.
In the Book of Acts, the disciple Ananias removed not just dust, but the scales in the eyes that temporarily blinded a man named Saul. Saul was infamous for being a persecutor of Christians back then. Regardless of that Ananias, when Jesus asked Him to help out Saul, Ananaias had faith and took the courage to carry out the job.
Prior to Saul’s meeting with Ananias, Jesus appeared to Saul to task him to spread the Good News of His salvation to both the gentiles (non-believers) and the Jews. After seeing Jesus Saul went blind, and then Ananias came:
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)
After that, Saul, who later on became known as the Apostle Paul, got baptized and helped spread Christianity to non-Jewish people in Greece, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Syria and Judea. He also authored more than half of the books in the New Testament.
Now, let’s take the time to pause and think if we have already met the Ananias of our life. In reality, most of us have already met him, and if we are not yet abiding in the Lord till now then that means we may have just shrugged off his presence.
You see, the Lord is so patient with us that even after calling us personally, He reinforces His invitation to us by sending someone to open our eyes to the truth of His love and salvation. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 says:
"Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
(1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)
If only we did not disregard people inviting us to know God deeper through bible study or invitations to join them in Sunday Worship, then our eyes could have long been opened to the truth of God’s love and salvation. We would have been living in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, free from sin and worldly cares.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you,my faithful love promised to David."
Isaiah 55:2-3
If we have been blessed to have heeded God’s invitation, and are now enjoying God’s presence in our life, then we should ask ourselves if we have already been an Ananias to someone? Have we been instrumental to opening their eyes to the grace, mercy and goodness of God? Have we given them the gift of the Gospel and encouraged them to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? If we haven’t yet then we should take it upon ourselves to carry out God’s mission for us to spread His word:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
It does not matter if we have only accepted Jesus today or the other week, we can already start sharing the good news to our loved ones right now. We do not need a degree, nor training, nor attendance in seminars and workshops to spread the Gospel to others. We just have to be truthful and sincere in sharing our personal encounter with the Lord. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus expelled demons out of a man, and after he was healed, he wanted to follow Him but instead Jesus said he should just share His experience to others:
"As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolishow much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed."
(Mark 5:18-20)
Of course as we grow in our faith we will learn more about the scriptures and hopefully pass these learnings on to others.
One of the signs that the Holy Spirit abides in a person is his unexplainable desire to let others know about God’s saving grace. It is like when you know someone famous and you would like everyone to know that you know him, and you want to introduce them to him. As true believers, we have been blessed to have a relationship with the Lord and later on live in eternity with Him. Wouldn’t we want our family and friends to be with us in eternity too?
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
Romans 1:16
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Luke 9:23-26, Isaiah 55:1-4, and Mark 5:1-20 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Have you recognized and thanked the Ananias of your life? Have you been one to someone too?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ thank you for sending an Ananias in my life. The grace of knowing you is beyond me, and it is the best blessing I have ever received. Give me the confidence to be an Ananaias to others and proclaim your Good News of Salvation to them, so that they too can live a life in the comfort of the Holy SPirit, and spend eternity with you. Amen.