A Tipping-Point Christian

There’s an account in the book of Acts that features a man who is mentioned only twice in Scripture, but who has an incredible impact for Christ. That man is Ananias.

Thinking through how God used him in Saul’s (later renamed Paul) conversion and commissioning has encouraged me.

Let’s read Acts 9:10-20

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” “17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

Ananias clearly knew about Saul and about the threat he was to the Church. He expressed that to the Lord. But he obeyed the Lord and visited Saul. As a result, Saul regained his sight, received the Holy Spirit, was baptized, and was received into the Church — into the fellowship of the disciples of Christ.

“Ananias is not widely featured in the New Testament…but Acts 9 suggests that he was a tipping-point Christian. Ananias’s obedience to the strange call of God unleashed the mission to the Gentiles and resulted in the Bible books of Ephesians, Galatians, Romans, and more later written by Saul. This seemingly small step of faith blessed a man, the church, and the [entire] world.

Every Christian who obeys the call of God is a tipping-point Christian. Every decision to obey God, even in the strange matters, gets us closer to fulfilling the multifaceted will of God for the earth and humanity. We change the world through our faithful actions of obedience. Like a domino that falls upon its neighbor and starts a chain-reaction, the church on the go is the church on the grow.”

The Gospel Project — “From Creation to Chaos”, teaching curriculum.

Ananias’ obedience “unleashed the mission to the Gentiles.” Unless you’re Jewish, that’s you! I love that.

Every act of obedience to Christ, no matter how small, is valuable and impactful.