Unsung Heroes
Well, frontline workers in various spheres of life have become our frontline heroes haven’t they? The next layer of those heroes will be the classroom teachers and school administrators as they work hard to teach kids in safe environments. They need to be the next group included in the 7pm clapping/banging tributes. (We’ve got an amazing drummer in our neighbourhood who doesn’t make it every night but it’s wonderful when those sounds come across.)
So today I’m also thinking of an unsung hero in the Bible. Yesterday we were thanking God for Paul who stayed strong while he was incarcerated for his faith. Prior to that though, he was the guy who was signing off of the killing of followers of Jesus. On his way to Damascus to rout out these folks he hated Paul had an encounter with Jesus. It left him blind waiting for a promised messenger God would send to him to tell him what to do.
Switch gears with me to the house of a guy named Ananias. He’s a follower of Jesus under threat from this Paul guy. While he’s praying one day, this is what happens:
The Lord called to him in a vision,
“Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
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.
In a vision he has seen a man
named Ananias come and place
his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “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.”
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.
will show him how much
he must suffer for my name.”
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.”
Immediately, something like scales
fell from Saul’s eyes, and he
could see again. He got up and
was baptized, and after taking
some food, he regained his strength.
Acts 9:13-19
Now there’s a hero for you. Someone who is willing to hear from God and follow God at risk of his own life. Let’s pray today for many more unsung heros to be raised up - including ourselves.
Heavenly Father, we are encouraged by the example of people like Ananias who was willing to follow Your instructions even at risk to everything around him that said it was a dangerous and even life-threatening thing to do.
Our challenges are much smaller for the most part, it seems to me, and yet I wonder about our desire to hear and our willingness to follow what You would like to see take place today. Oh Lord, we’re not looking for angry people to stand up and rail against this or that according to the latest conspiracy theory but we are asking You to make us bold and courageous witnesses for the gospel.
There’s no doubt that Biblical values are challenged by laws and social custom around the globe. We sometimes look around and it feels a lot like the time of Noah when You wiped out the human race and started again. Forgive us Lord for the gross and flagrant breaking of Your laws and even holding them up for scorn and accusation as hate statements.
We thank you for people who are willing to make a stand. I thank you for prisoners of conscience we’ve met during the prison ministry we’ve been doing over the years – people who with great gentleness but strong resolve have put their own liberty on the line to say, “No,” to ungodly government decisions that result in practices that break the 10 Commandments and other very clear messages from God recorded in the Bible.
We pray for courage and wisdom and resolve to grow in our hearts so we serve You, Lord, above every other agenda. We pray for tenderness of heart and respectful words as we do so, but a willingness to speak and stand for truth no matter the consequences. Raise up a whole new generation of heroes we pray, here in our country and around the world – and let it begin with us. Amen
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