Nobody should enter a family if people aren’t comfortable. But, a family bond needs time to develop. There will be times when things take a while. And, sometimes, that person will be found to be a very loving, caring member.
All who are saved are in the family of God, after all. Let’s look at the life of Paul to see what we mean about that development.
Paul was originally called Saul. He was from Tarsus. Saul was very mean and nasty before he got saved. In fact, he persecuted the early church like crazy. He consented to the death of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Then, he planned to go to Damascus to try and destroy believers there. It was on that road to Damascus that he was converted. Jesus appeared to him, and Saul was blinded temporarily.
Enter a believer named Ananias; a different one from the one in chapter five. This man was told by God to go to Saul, because Saul had had a vision where a man named Ananias would come to him and give him sight. (Acts 9:12)
As you might expect, Ananias was scared. He did the right thing, though. He told God why, and what his concerns were. God will help you with whatever you need. At times we think we need something, when we really only want it. But, here, God knew Ananias needed comforting. So, He told Ananias that Saul had been chosen by God to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Then, Ananias obeyed.
The disciples in Jerusalem, were really scared. But, Barnabas had the courage to become a friend and encourager to Saul, who became Paul shortly. Soon, he became one of the greatest Christians who ever lived.
God doesn’t talk verbally like he did in the Book of Acts. He doesn’t have to; we have His Word written down. This was only done then to help the young church. Still, even though God doesn’t talk directly, you can go to Him at any time and seek His will. And, you can pray and ask the Lord to work in a situation. Prayer is powerful. I know I keep emphasizing it, but we can never have enough.
God the Holy Spirit can lead very effectively if you are listening. And, He can use a peson at any age. One of my cousins married a wonderful man a few years ago. At the rehearsal dinner, she shared the following. She always figured that between her three brothers and her dad, there would be plenty of tough and protective critics of the boys she brought home. However, she noted that the toughest critic of all in her family was, at times, her sister, who is eleven years younger. And, that this man whom she married was the one man whom this preteen girl liked right away.
Children sense things adults don’t sometimes. They aren’t always right. But, young children aren’t swayed as often as teens and young adults by good looks, people who put on an act, and so on. It’s very easy to give away your heart, to become too involved in a relationship, if you’re not careful. Because, we’re people, and we do like attention. Girls sometimes like attention from guys most of all. But, it’s important to guard your heart, so it doesn’t get hurt.
You won’t always know what’s right, of course. But, neither did Ananias. And yet, God was willing to lovingly show him he didn’t have to be afraid.
