THE MASTER APPROVES

Reference: Acts 9:1-20

If there is one thing most people struggle to leave behind, it is the ‘past’. Even though this phase of time together with all the events that characterised it are meant to be in a rear view mirror, a positive or negative past still manages to rear it’s head into the present day every now and again. And for men, although often unspoken, we are likely to look at a person through the lens of their past, not the present or future, because to us the past offers the best picture of possible outcomes.

This was the poisition of Ananias when God told him about Paul. Notice how he addressed him ‘I have heard about THIS MAN and the evil he has done to you saints at Jerusalem’. Thus, on that premise alone, Ananias thought a blind Paul might be better since he was likely to do worse if he recovered his sight. That was the verdict of a man.

However, God overruled this position saying ‘Go, for He is a chosen instrument of mine’. In other words, I value your opinion, but in this matter, I am not considering it. Beloved, remember the contrast Isaiah presented between God and man ‘my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways’ (55:10)

God does not share the verdicts of men, sometimes, the two may align, but surely, no man can disqualify another that the Lord has approved of.

Like Paul, you may not have a past to be proud of, but who says the master potter has run out of ideas on what to make with what is left?

#sly