Thursday, August 19, 2021
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Author
Keith Thompson
When I was in the second grade, I got my first pair of eyeglasses. I remember leaving the optometrist’s and being so amazed at the way the leaves looked in the trees. My vision was not that bad, but now I could see each and every waving leaf and how the sun and shadows played in the branches. The doctor helped me to see.
In our passage, Saul loses his sight for three days after an encounter on the road in which Jesus speaks to him. To put it gently, Saul has not been a friend of the Jesus followers. So when Jesus appears to Ananias with a command to go lay his hands on Saul so that he can see again, it is understandable that he would not want to help this man who persecutes them.
Jesus knows what Saul has done; Jesus knows what Saul (Paul) will do. And because he knows what Saul will do, he sends Ananias to help him. Even when we don’t have those roadside encounters with Jesus, there are people around us who are there to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. And sometimes, like for Ananias, we are called to be Christ’s hands and feet for people with whom we would rather not associate. Rather than refusing to share God’s love with him, Ananias goes to Saul who is then filled with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, God is with us through the people we encounter.
Summer Devotional
God Goes With Us
This summer’s devotional is a walk through the Bible. Join our pastors and staff for daily reflections on scripture passages from Genesis to Revelation. In the beginning, God said, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Come and see how this covenant promise changes through time yet remains steadfast from generation to generation.
Each Sunday, Chris Holmes will share a short message on the texts for the week, and written reflections will go out every Monday through Thursday morning.
We wish you blessings and deeper faith this summer!
