“A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE!”

 Acts 9:15-18                                       (ESV)

“[15] But the LORD said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he (Saul) is “A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” to carry MY NAME before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. [16] For I WILL SHOW HIM how much HE MUST SUFFER for the sake of MY name.” [17] So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “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.” [18] And immediately something like SCALES FELL FROM HIS EYES, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;”

Early this month I was privileged to write about the “SCALES FELL FROM HIS EYES”, a recounting of the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus.  The point that when GOD is ready to remove the SCALES (impediments) from our eyes, they WILL BE removed is something that is often overlooked. Today I am moved to emphasize the words earlier used in the text of Scripture that points out that Saul was a “CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE”.  And just WHO is the MINE that is being spoken of in Acts 9:15?  

Breaking it down more plainly the verse begins with “But the LORD said to him (Ananias)”! A couple of verses later Ananias says “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.”  Now I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but “the LORD” and “the LORD JESUS” must be the same person???  Being a “CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” indicates therefore that Saul was “set aside” by THE CREATOR (Colossians 1:16) of ALL for HIS GLORY!

We too have been CHOSEN before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) by our CREATOR if indeed we are “set aside”!  We might be CHOSEN to be a mouthpiece of Salvation (Paul), or simply someone who spreads the WORD to one person (Ananias)!  We have to recognize and realize that being a “CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” is simply being USED by our CREATOR for HIS GLORY!?!?!