Obedience Trumps Courage

The early part of the 9th chapter of Acts is as much about a minor character named Ananias of Damascus  as it is about the major character named Saul of Tarsus.  Some would say Ananias exhibited extraordinary bravery and courage.  No doubt the grapevine had alerted every believer in Damascus that Saul of Tarsus was coming for them.  He had letters of authority empowering him to arrest any one who followed Jesus.  It was not a safe time to be a visible follower of Jesus and no one knew this any better than Ananias. 

 

There is no question that Ananias was one of those whose life was in danger.  While Saul was languishing in darkness trying to sort out what had happened to him, Ananias heard the Lord telling him to go directly to the place where the persecutor was staying.  "...go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul."  (Acts 9:11)  Apparently, it can be a dangerous thing to be found praying when the Lord is looking for someone to do His work.  Now, Ananias responded like a lot of others whom God called.  Men like Moses and Jonah had tried to get out of the hold of the Lord and Ananias was no different.  He was not inclined to go and die, but after the Lord spoke again about going, the Word says, "So Ananias went and entered the house."  (Acts 9:17)

 

Maybe Ananias did exhibit extraordinary bravery and courage, but what is even more certain is that he exhibited extraordinary obedience.  It was not courage which took Ananias to the house of Judas, but obedience.  More than he valued his own life, he valued being true and faithful to the Lord who died for him and loved him.  Obedience is what took him far from his comfort zone into the unfolding will of God and obedience always trumps courage when it comes to being faithful to what God is calling us to do.