Ananias and the Conversion of Saul

Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us." But the Master said, "Don't argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I'm about to show him what he's in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job." Acts 9:13-16

The story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is the stuff of Christian legend. Saul was the chief persecutor of the early church and after his conversion becomes the most highly effective pastor and church planter in history. Much has been said about Paul, his conversion, his influence, and his letters, but what concerns me in regards to spiritual friendship is the connection between Saul and Ananias.

Ananias is called a disciple of Jesus and is called by God to go find Saul and to lay hands on him to bring healing to his sight. Ananais' response to God is what we might expect; he is shocked and repulsed by the idea of helping the chief enemy of the church. God tells Ananias to not argue but to go and do it, that God is working in Saul's life and has a plan to use Saul for God's glory. Ananias obediently submits to God and goes to Saul saying:

"Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul's eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal. Acts 9:17-19

Ananias, in the presence of a truly despicable human being, was being offered a choice, would he repay Saul for all the injustice he commited or would he extend grace and hospitality? He could have rejected Saul and ignored God's commands, instead he chose to be a spiritual friend to Saul paving the way forward for the church. Through the power of the holy spirit and the willingness of Ananias to offer the same forgiveness and love given through Jesus, we see the power of God's amazing grace to bring transformation to the lives of individuals and the community.

For us the question becomes: who is God calling us to befriend? Who are we to extend grace and mercy to? God never gives up on people no matter who they are and what they have done. God is on a mission to bring transformation, love, and grace to a hurting and broken world. God's best and only strategy is to use US to be God's hands and feet in carrying out this mission. God is calling us to love the unlovable, give grace to the sinner, and welcome the lost. This is a high and holy calling, one we should be familiar with since it was first given to us.

What a Friend We Have

I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. John 15:11-15

The life of a follower of Jesus is one filled with life-giving relationships. We are called to be in relationship with Jesus and one another, to receive and to share the love of God. We cannot live a meaningful and fulfilling life apart from God or from one another. Jesus tells us that "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5) signifying that we receive our vitality and connection through our relationship with him. Apart from Christ I am like a dead branch, dried up and useless, but connected to Christ I am alive and bearing good fruit for others. As Jesus prepared to travel to the cross he took time at the Last Supper to share last words of wisdom with the disciples. He knew the challenges and obstacles the disciples would face in the immediate aftermath of his death and the subsequent days, weeks, months, and years of the early church. The only way to remain faithful, for the disciples and us, is to abide in Christ. We must take time for Jesus in our lives, we must submit our lives to our Lord Jesus. We must also abide in one another, providing encouragement, support and love. Together we can journey with Jesus through whatever challenges we might face. Apart from God and one another, Satan will lead us astray by dividing and conquering. To have friends in our lives who share our connection and commitment to Christ is a true blessing. To have friends who are willing to go to hell and back with and for us gives us courage to be who God created us to be. To have friends who love as Jesus loved, willing to sacrifice and give of themselves fully brings hope and transformation. Who is that type of friend for you? Who are you that kind of friend for? Honor and treasure those relationships if you have them, make it a priority to develop those relationships if you do not.

Community of the Spirit

And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. Acts 2:44-45

The early church as depicted in Acts 2 may sound a bit naive and idealistic to our 21st century ears, but I believe it is the true representation of what God has in mind for the church. After Peter delivers his Pentecost sermon several thousands Jews come to faith in Jesus Christ and become baptized. Filled with the Holy Spirt, the early church lived together in community, sharing resources and coming together for worship, prayer, and learning. They had, as scripture tells us, "all things in common." This is absolutely remarkable, especially when you consider the devisive and divided nature of Christian sects today.

What is so powerful about the unity of the early church was that it was achieved despite enormous cultural and ethnic differences. Faithful Jews from across the known world had gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, and despite differences in culture and language, the power of the gospel brought God's people together in a transformative way. The unity of the church existed in the midst of real diversity, it was not a group of like minded people of similar backgrounds.

So what might the unity and diversity of the early church have to say to us today? For me it means that the petty differences that define so much of human relationships are truly meaningless to God. It means that in Christ we are free to be ourselves AND honor others for their uniqueness. It means that while we acknowledge diveristy, we recognize more fundamentally it is not our differences which define us but our shared connection through our Lord and Savior. Genuine Christian community is possible but it starts with our shared identity as children of God. Let us stand together, seeking authentic community, honoring one another while serving and loving the Lord.

Jesus and Spiritual Friendship

He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight...But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! Matthew 13:11-13;16

Jesus had a special relationship with the twelve disciples. He hand-picked them to be his followers and spent every day for three years with them, teaching them about the Kingdom of God and demonstrating that he was the Son of God through a series of miracles. When Jesus spoke to the disciples he spoke as a spiritual mentor, providing guidance, encouragement, support and correction. By contrast, when he spoke to large crowds he often did so in parables which the disciples and followers of Jesus understood but others often did not. Because Jesus took time and effort to cultivate a relationship of trust and support the disciples had "eyes to see" what God was up to.

Spiritual friendships are absolutely essential to the life of faith. We cannot walk alone, there are too many challenges and detours along the way. Jesus' ministry demonstrates to us the power of relationship, accountability and trust. When we learn to share with others, inlcude others in our spiritual lives, and allow others to guide and correct us when necessary we will grow stronger in the Lord. If we continue to walk alone Satan will certainly place obstacles in our way to keep us from seeing and experiencing the true joy and love of God.

So may you look for ways to support and encourage others in the spiritual journey, and may you allow others in your life to support and encourage you.

Much Given, Much Expected

It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Matthew 25:14-15

The parable of the talents is a powerful reminder that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. The gifts, talents, and passions that we have were given by God, but with those gifts also come responsibilities. The gifts of talent and treasure require from us an acknowledgement that God has given us these gifts, we have not earned them nor do we deserve them; they belong to God. We are called to be good stewards of the gifts we have given and to share those gifts with those in need.

As the master distributes resources to his servants, he gives according to ability. To those who are given more, more is expected. When the master returned he expected that the servants would have made good use of the resources they were entrusted with. The first two servants do very well in their use of the money but the third servant, while not selfish, squanders away the opportunity to use the resources productively.

The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? Matthew 25:24-26

The master is furious with the servant, not because he lost the money, but because he was afraid to take a chance. He kept his resources to himself for fear of losing what he had.

It seems to me that many people live their lives this way. We hold so tightly to what we have that we fail to realize opportunities to make a difference. When we are consumed by anxiety and fear, we fail to place our trust to God. When we fear judgment for failing, we are not seeing our gracious and loving God.

God is calling us to use our talents, not recklessly, but boldly. To step out of fear and into faith. To give to others fully, knowing that God will not leave us nor forsake us. This is a life of adventure, faith, and joy. To live otherwise is a terrible way to live.

Ananias and Sapphira

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn't lie to men but to God." Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. Acts 5:3-5

The story of how Ananias and Sapphira literally drop dead after failing to be generous in their giving should give us all pause. It is a remarkable story but one which easily can be misunderstood. As a community the early Christians decided to pool all their resources together for the common good. It was agreed upon that if anyone sold property they would donate the full sale to the church. When Ananias and Sapphira sell their property they only shared a portion with the church and lied about the selling price. They are both individually confronted by Peter and drop dead presumably from guilt.

When it comes to financial giving, or any other part of our life, God wants our whole heart. It pains the Lord to see people give half heatedly. It pains the Lord to see people go through the motions in their prayer life, church attendance, or any other aspect of faith. God wants our whole lives to be a living sacrifice to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. When we give only a little, or only enough to get by God is neither impressed nor fooled.

When you give you are not giving to the church you are giving to God. Fundamentally giving is not even about money, it is about your relationship with God. When we give generously and from the heart, we acknowledge that God is the source of every blessing and in faith trust that God will continue to bless us. When we hold back we reveal our hearts to be not fully converted.

Take a step forward in faith and obedience to the Lord and give with a full and generous heart!

Lazarus and the Rich Man

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. Luke 16:19-23

We live in a time in our nation and especially our world where the gap between the rich and the poor has never been greater. While CEOs and hedge fund managers make multi-million dollar salaries with even greater bonuses, the middle and lower class are under assault. Teacher and public worker unions are being blamed for state deficits, senior citizens and those in poverty see their taxes increase, while the wealthiest Americans and corporations receive tax breaks (or in the case of General Electric pay no tax at all!). This is a spiritual issue more than an economic issue and God's word is not silent.

Jesus shares the story of the rich man and Lazarus to make a prophetic point. Those who have wealth must not ignore the needs of others if they wish to remain in good standing with the Lord. Jesus cannot sit back and watch poor Lazarus suffer while the rich man feasts in luxury. God loves justice and reminds us that if we use our resources for self-centered and self-indulgent purposes we will not be received by the Lord.

This story also tells us that although the world may forget about the poor, the elderly, the widow and the orphan, God does not. God's heart is with the oppressed, the poor, and the broken hearted and offers them a vision of heaven filled with hope, love, and transformation.

While most of us would reject the choices the rich man makes in Jesus' story, what we fail to realize is most of us are more rich than not. We may not being in upper 1% of income in our country but if we have a job, a car, a home we are rich in wordily standards. For us the question becomes: what will we do with our wealth? Will we even notice the Lazarus in our midst? Will we even bother to look for ways to helps others?

Hear the word of the Lord, repent and live life on God's path.

Giving to God, not the Church

The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all. Mark 12:43-44

One of the least favorite times of year for many church-goers and pastors is stewardship season. We hear things like: "all the church cares about is money" on the one hand or "let's help the church pay its bills" on the other. The truth is that giving is not about the church at all, money is a spiritual issue that must be discussed and when it is avoided contributes to the spiritual shallowness the pervades our culture.

Jesus talked a lot about money and the power of wealth to lead people away from God. He talks about it a lot because it is such a seductive and alluring threat to our relationship with God. Coming to a spiritual understand of money is absolutely essential to becoming a follower of Jesus. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34)

For me, giving generously is really very easy. I suppose it is a spiritual gift not to be overly concerned with nice things or needing to keep up with the Joneses. Once I decided to tithe I have found great joy and peace in giving. I have learned to trust that God will provide and so there is no reason to not to give fully. It has been a blessing and I continue to find ways to try to out give God (as they say) but God continues to bless me.

For others I know giving is much harder. I have had people tell me they give my giving their time or that they simply cannot give right now or as much as they would hope. While I do have compassion for those going through tough times the story of the widow reminds us that everyone can give generously. We all must begin to think differently about our money and posessions.

Once we understand them as a gift from God, a gift which does not belong to us, it frees us to give knowing God will provide. I suggest to those at the beginning of their giving journey to start out giving a percentage of your income. Don't try to start at 10% but work up from 2 or 3%. Rather than giving an arbitrary amount (20 or 50 dollars a week) take your check stub and calculate a percentage.

As you learn the joy of giving you delight in your ability to give generous and be motivated to give more and you will be blessed along the way!

Anxiety and Trust

What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Luke 12:29-31

One of the biggest obstacles to living life for and with God is anxiety. We spend time worrying about things that truly matter: our children, our jobs (especially these days), our retirement, whether or not we can send our kids to college and so much more. We worry, we fret, and mentally pace ourselves into nervous wrecks. Can any of these worrying add even a day to our lives? The opposite is true; worry and stress is a killer of our bodies and our spirits. Jesus understood stress and worry and offered wisdom for our lives. The antidote to anxiety is trust. Do we trust that God is in control? Do we truly believe that God has blessed us and will continue to bless us? Or do we secretly believe that we are the ones who have to do it. If we don't handle and fix everything it won't get done. Who do you trust more: yourself or God? When we trust that God will provide for us and we need not worry about anything, we are freed to love God and neighbor. When I trust that God will continue to bless me, as God has always done, I am free to be generous with my time, talent, and treasure. When I trust God to be God, I don't have to be!

How Much is Enough?

Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Luke 12:15

One of the biggest distractions that takes away from our relationship with God is money. When we do not have a balanced or proper understanding of wealth and material things, they can come to possess our attention, time, and devotion in disturbing ways with deep spiritual consequences. Jesus speaks about money a great deal because it is a spiritual issue, and if we do not think and act clearly about wealth it has the potential to destroy us. Consider that a large proportion of people who win the lottery end of bankrupt within a few years. It isn't the money that made them bankrupt it was their values and lack of foundation about money. When we have a skewed understanding of possessions and wealth it doesn't matter whether we are rich or poor, we are in spiritual trouble.

The man who built bigger barns to hold all of his stuff will never have enough to be satisfied, he will never have enough to feel secure. When we operate out of a mindset of scarcity, assuming that at anytime my provisions will run out, we miss the fact that it has been God all along who has been blessing us. God has taken care of us and blessed us in our lives, God will continue to provide for our needs and bless us in the future. All that I have and am is a gift of God's grace, it has never been about my ability to earn it or keep it, but about God's continuing blessings.

When we are driven to acquire more stuff, when we are obsessed with accumulating, when we needlessly get more and more, we must resist and remember. Resist the temptation to define success as "the one with the most toys wins" and see success in life as being content with what you have. Remember God's amazing grace in your life, and that God will continue to be present, continue to bless. As Jesus tells us: "fool! tonight you die and your barnful of goods--who gets it?"

The Place of Honor

"When you're invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, 'Friend, come up to the front.' That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." Luke 14:10-11

Growing up a child I had the opportunity to experience "the kids table" many times. Our house was often the host for family dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. This meant that the adults gathered at the real table while the children (my 14 cousins and I) were in the other room. What made this strange for me is that I was displaced from my normal place at the table. I always felt like I was missing out and wanted to be part of the adult table.

When Jesus talks about taking the last seat at the table rather than the place of honor, he is really telling us that with our position in life, whether it is humble or grand, we need to see others with respect. When we have an inflated sense of self and look down upon others we are far removed from the Kingdom. When we see that others are honorable and worthy of praise we see how God sees them. As I grew older and became eligible to sit at the adult table I realized that there was nothing particularly unique or privileged about it. The adult table had ordinary conversation and the same food. In fact I now look back at my time at the kids table with fondness. That was where we shared laughs and made milk come out of Matt's nose! So may you embrace the seat of last place, making room for others to receive the dignity and respect God has for them. May you walk humbly, serving God and neighbor.