Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
CHOSEN
BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE
Bobe Simon
Carmel MTC, Boston
10. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias;
and the Lord said to him in a vision “Ananias”. And he said, “Here I am
Lord”
Ananias’ purpose: In this passage, God had a special purpose for Ananias: to find Saul and lay his hand on him so that Saul can regain his sight. Thus, Ananias played a key role in the transformation from Saul the Pharisee to Paul the Apostle.
Finding purpose: Different thoughts started coming to my mind when I thought about the purpose that God might have for me. Is it spreading the word of God in America - at work, at campuses or in the local neighborhoods? Or is it working at a mission field in India or working/funding a charitable organization? I was trying to find that special activity that might be impactful, meaningful or a unique situation that God may have set aside for me to accomplish. After many hours of deep reflection to find my purpose – I found nothing.
Seeking God: I was disheartened. So I read the passage multiple times to find a message in it for me. Then, I noticed something. Ananias’ response to God’s voice caught my attention. He is so calm, cool and collected in his response to God -“Here I am Lord”. If God were to speak to me, I know that I would be startled beyond belief and that I would be either hiding out of fear or probably running faster than a mad wildebeest. I reflected on the contrast of my potential reaction to that of Ananias’. In my self-examination, I realized that I am not one with God. I needed to change.
My purpose: I found my purpose. My purpose is to have daily purposeful prayer so that I am closer and one with Him. I remember how my Ammachi every morning had deep and meaningful prayers, such that by the end, she would have tears of joy and oneness with God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ set the example for us to follow. Before setting out to heal the sick, feed the poor or teach, Jesus would spend time alone in prayer. His first purpose was to be one with the Father and everything else followed after that.
C.S. Lewis once said, “In prayer, God imparts himself to us”. By knowing and being one with God through our daily prayers, we also can respond as Ananias and achieve the purpose that God wants us to achieve.
Ananias’ purpose: In this passage, God had a special purpose for Ananias: to find Saul and lay his hand on him so that Saul can regain his sight. Thus, Ananias played a key role in the transformation from Saul the Pharisee to Paul the Apostle.
Finding purpose: Different thoughts started coming to my mind when I thought about the purpose that God might have for me. Is it spreading the word of God in America - at work, at campuses or in the local neighborhoods? Or is it working at a mission field in India or working/funding a charitable organization? I was trying to find that special activity that might be impactful, meaningful or a unique situation that God may have set aside for me to accomplish. After many hours of deep reflection to find my purpose – I found nothing.
Seeking God: I was disheartened. So I read the passage multiple times to find a message in it for me. Then, I noticed something. Ananias’ response to God’s voice caught my attention. He is so calm, cool and collected in his response to God -“Here I am Lord”. If God were to speak to me, I know that I would be startled beyond belief and that I would be either hiding out of fear or probably running faster than a mad wildebeest. I reflected on the contrast of my potential reaction to that of Ananias’. In my self-examination, I realized that I am not one with God. I needed to change.
My purpose: I found my purpose. My purpose is to have daily purposeful prayer so that I am closer and one with Him. I remember how my Ammachi every morning had deep and meaningful prayers, such that by the end, she would have tears of joy and oneness with God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ set the example for us to follow. Before setting out to heal the sick, feed the poor or teach, Jesus would spend time alone in prayer. His first purpose was to be one with the Father and everything else followed after that.
C.S. Lewis once said, “In prayer, God imparts himself to us”. By knowing and being one with God through our daily prayers, we also can respond as Ananias and achieve the purpose that God wants us to achieve.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank
you for wanting to achieve your purpose through us. We pray to be one
with you so that your voice is familiar to us and that we respond accordingly.
Amen
Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Our first purpose should be to be one with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If that is achieved, then all of the other purposes will follow according to God’s plan.
Our first purpose should be to be one with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If that is achieved, then all of the other purposes will follow according to God’s plan.