Faith and Obedience

In the story of Saul’s dramatic conversion, we sometimes overlook the vital part that Ananias had to play. Ananias had heard all about Saul and his mission to eliminate the ‘Followers of the Way’, but he hadn’t heard about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. All he knew was that the Lord was telling him to visit his ‘enemy’. And yet he went in faith and obedience.

A present day example of this kind of faith is the student who was on a NETS school at Pierrepont. He believed that God was calling him to go to Ghana in the vacation break between the two terms, and so he asked to be taken to the airport, although he had no ticket and no money. As he waited in line at the check-in desk, a stranger came up to him and asked where he was going. “Ghana”, he said, “but I don’t have a ticket yet.” “Take mine,” said the stranger, “my trip has been cancelled.”

Having got the name on the ticket changed and checked in, he went towards the passport control where another stranger came up to him and said “The Lord has told me to give you this”, and handed over £100! He telephoned Pierrepont, “I’m just about to board my aeroplane to Ghana, I have a return ticket and money to see me through”.

I don’t know if I would have the faith to be obedient like that. But it’s not just the student who went to Ghana who had faith. What about the other two – the one whose trip was cancelled and the one who heard the Lord say that he was to give £100 to a perfect stranger?

We may not be called to be the one ‘who goes to Ghana’, but in faith and obedience to the Lord we all have our parts to play and every part is vital to God’s great plan. Ours may be the job to support in equally miraculous ways those who are called to major exploits for the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Father God, help me be alert and obedient to all that You’re asking me to do for You, whatever it is, big or small, for I know it’s all part of Your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 
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