Acts 9:6-10: a reflection

6But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.” 7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

After the risen Christ appears to Saul on the Damascus road, he does not finish the work alone; he calls an ordinary disciple named Ananias to play a part. The Lord speaks to him in a vision: Ananias! And Ananias answers simply, Behold, it's me, Lord, here I am. He is not a famous apostle or a great leader; he is a disciple in Damascus, called by name to a task, and he answers, here I am. God, who could have completed Saul's conversion by himself, chose to involve an ordinary, willing disciple; and that disciple's readiness was in his simple answer, here I am. God calls ordinary people by name into his work, and the fitting answer is a ready here I am, available for whatever he asks.

Notice Ananias's ready answer to God's call: here I am. He was not a great figure; he was an ordinary disciple in Damascus. Yet God called him by name into a significant part of his work, and Ananias answered simply, here I am, Lord. His readiness was not in his greatness but in his availability; when God called, he answered, ready to be used. God chose to involve this ordinary, willing disciple in his work, though he could have done it without him. And what God looked for was not greatness but a ready heart, a here I am. The willingness to answer God's call, to make oneself available for whatever he asks, is what marked Ananias. Ordinary and willing, he answered, here I am, and God used him.

That is worth taking to heart, for God calls ordinary people into his work, and the fitting answer is a ready here I am. We can think God's work is for great figures, not ordinary people like us; but God called Ananias, an ordinary disciple, by name, and Ananias answered, here I am. God calls ordinary, willing people into his work, and what he looks for is not greatness but availability, a ready heart. When God calls you into his work, answer as Ananias did, here I am, ready to be used, whatever your standing. Answer God's call with a ready here I am, making yourself available for his work whatever your standing, as Ananias, an ordinary disciple, answered when the Lord called him by name; for God calls ordinary people into his work and looks not for greatness but for a willing heart, and the fitting answer to his call is to make ourselves available, saying, here I am, Lord, ready for whatever he asks.

Lord, after the risen Christ appears to Saul on the Damascus road, he does not finish the work alone; he calls an ordinary disciple named Ananias to play a part. You speak to him in a vision: Ananias! And Ananias answers simply, behold, it's me, Lord, here I am. He is not a famous apostle or a great leader; he is a disciple in Damascus, called by name to a task, and he answers, here I am. You, who could have completed Saul's conversion by yourself, chose to involve an ordinary, willing disciple; and that disciple's readiness was in his simple answer, here I am. Show me Ananias's ready answer to your call: here I am. He was not a great figure; he was an ordinary disciple in Damascus. Yet you called him by name into a significant part of your work, and Ananias answered simply, here I am, Lord. His readiness was not in his greatness but in his availability; when you called, he answered, ready to be used. You chose to involve this ordinary, willing disciple, though you could have done it without him. What you looked for was not greatness but a ready heart. Take that to my heart, for you call ordinary people into your work, and the fitting answer is a ready here I am. I can think your work is for great figures, not ordinary people like me; but you called Ananias, an ordinary disciple, by name, and he answered, here I am. You call ordinary, willing people, and what you look for is availability, a ready heart. When you call me into your work, help me answer as Ananias did, here I am, Lord, ready to be used whatever my standing.