Devotionals for February 5, 2024
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READ
Acts 9:10-16
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.”
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.”
REFLECT
"Will you promise not to — do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
The above excerpt is from C.S. Lewis’ “The Silver Chair,” the sixth book in his classic ‘Narnia’ series. Jill, encountering Aslan resting by a stream, is thirsty. Aslan invites her to drink from the stream but she is afraid to approach it. She is afraid to draw near to Aslan, the great lion, because she is aware that lions are dangerous. Lewis’ captures beautifully the posture of God toward us. God promises to satisfy our deepest desires (to give us water for our thirsty souls), but He does not give us assurances that this is all He wants to do. He is not an ATM in the sky, but a free agent with a will and sometimes His will clashes with ours.
To approach God only as one who will grant you what you desire is to confuse Aladdin’s genie with Yahweh. God made you. He wants relationship with you. But He has also called you to something more important than your story. You’ve been called into His, and you cannot expect that nothing will happen to you as a result. Still, the story of Narnia is that though Aslan is “not a tame Lion,” he is good, and that is a far better thing to rest in. God is the same way. Uncontrollable, yet good in every respect. Our flesh may want to control God, and when this happens, we will encounter His loving growl and an invitation to drink of the living water to satisfy our souls.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
The above excerpt is from C.S. Lewis’ “The Silver Chair,” the sixth book in his classic ‘Narnia’ series. Jill, encountering Aslan resting by a stream, is thirsty. Aslan invites her to drink from the stream but she is afraid to approach it. She is afraid to draw near to Aslan, the great lion, because she is aware that lions are dangerous. Lewis’ captures beautifully the posture of God toward us. God promises to satisfy our deepest desires (to give us water for our thirsty souls), but He does not give us assurances that this is all He wants to do. He is not an ATM in the sky, but a free agent with a will and sometimes His will clashes with ours.
To approach God only as one who will grant you what you desire is to confuse Aladdin’s genie with Yahweh. God made you. He wants relationship with you. But He has also called you to something more important than your story. You’ve been called into His, and you cannot expect that nothing will happen to you as a result. Still, the story of Narnia is that though Aslan is “not a tame Lion,” he is good, and that is a far better thing to rest in. God is the same way. Uncontrollable, yet good in every respect. Our flesh may want to control God, and when this happens, we will encounter His loving growl and an invitation to drink of the living water to satisfy our souls.
APPLY
Q: What was the suffering spoken of in this passage?
Q: Where in your life have you encountered uncomfortable growth?
Q: How does evangelism and discipleship look in this context?
Q: Where in your life have you encountered uncomfortable growth?
Q: How does evangelism and discipleship look in this context?
SING
PRAY
"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."
Lord, give us an image of your goodness today. Reveal yourself to us in deeper ways. Amen.
Lord, give us an image of your goodness today. Reveal yourself to us in deeper ways. Amen.