Conversion
Day 497, Sunday, Dec. 21
Acts 9:10-19
We usually think of Paul’s conversion as having taken place on that road outside of Damascus. In fact, we often refer to any dramatic conversion to Christianity as a “Damascus Road experience.” But there was more to it.
I’ve often thought that one of the scariest assignments God gave anyone in the Bible was the task he set for Ananias of Damascus.
We don’t know a lot about Ananias. Later in Acts Paul will describe him as “a devout man according to the law,” but that’s about the only description we have.
When Ananias is told in a vision to go find Paul and lay hands on him to restore his sight, Ananias is concerned. “Lord, 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.”
God responds, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”
God continues, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Paul’s later persecution wasn’t an unfortunate diversion from his mission; it was part of the mission from the beginning.
Ananias, despite his reasonable misgivings, faithfully does what God has instructed and places his hands on Paul and prays for two things: “that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately, Paul’s blindness is cured—both his physical blindness and his spiritual blindness. He gets up and is baptized.
Now the persecutor of the Way is part of it. Neither Paul nor the Way will ever be the same.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 46:1-11
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Prayer focus
Open our eyes, God.