“CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE!”

 Acts 9:10-19                    (ESV)

“[10] Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, LORD.” [11] And the LORD said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” [13] But Ananias answered, “LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to YOUR saints at Jerusalem. [14] And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR name.” [15] But the LORD said to him, “Go, for he 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; [19] and taking food, he was strengthened.”

This piece of HIStory is absolutely FULL of the GOSPEL story!  As this chapter begins, Saul was “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD, went to the high priest.”  But GOD HAS A PLAN, and HIS PLAN WILL BE FULFILLED!!!  

Would you say after reading the Scripture passage above that Ananias was overly excited about witnessing to Saul???  Yet, JESUS CHRIST told Ananias that Saul was a “CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” even BEFORE Ananias agreed to go see Saul in his blind state!!!  Saul had been “changed” immediately, something that Ananias was not very convinced about???  But Ananias went as JESUS instructed him to and Saul was waiting for him, BLIND and broken!!!

Even today it is difficult for us to understand that JESUS can change people like HE changed Saul!  But JESUS changed Saul (later named Paul) COMPLETELY, because he wrote in Ephesians 1:4 “even as HE (JESUS) CHOSE us in HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and blameless before HIM.”  JESUS let Ananias know Saul would be a tremendous instrument for HIM in the future.  

We cannot fathom the PLAN that GOD has for our future???  Owning an insurance agency, surviving a massive brain hemorrhage, quadruple-bypass surgery ten years later, the bypassed blockages breaking loose three years later, selling the insurance agency this year……WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT???   GOD KNEW my future, just as HE does your future!!  Saul was a “CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE”, just like I am CHOSEN by HIM!!!  

John 15:16 says “You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the FATHER in MY NAME, HE may give it to you.”  HE CHOSE SAUL!  HE CHOSE ME!  DID HE CHOOSE YOU???