“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” Act 9: 13-14
Moving is no small task. When you must touch, organize, box, and categorize everything you own, it really puts into perspective what you own. To a degree, the exact same thing happens within yourself. We are always obtaining, learning, categorizing, and compartmentalizing; consciously or unconsciously. The whole of ourselves is labeled and categorized just like our homes, the process of which going largely unnoticed until called upon to “pick up and move.” That is truly when you find out what you love, what you’re leaning on, and how comfortable you really are.
In Acts chapter nine we find the conversion of Saul to Paul. Saul was a Pharisee who persecuted the Christians, and God struck him down. Saul was then converted and became a disciple of Christ. During this time, the Lord was working on another man as well, Ananias. Ananias was a disciple and no doubt an active member of the early church. The Lord came to him in a vision and told him that he was to go see Saul and put his hand on him so that Saul might receive his sight. He told him that Saul was praying. Ananias responded much like many would: “I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” Ananias had already organized, sorted, and categorized Saul. He knew his reputation, conduct, and “that man”, was not the kind of guy you laid hands on. Ananias initial response was one of a man who was being pushed out of his comfort zone. He was being called to pick up and move. Saul was an unknown and it would take faith to obey the Lord’s will. We may have a certain person or situation labeled and boxed up, but when God calls you to move, it doesn’t matter, we must yield to the Lord’s will. The more we compartmentalize and standardize, the harder it is to pick up and move. Jesus told Ananias to “go thy way” that Saul was a chosen vessel; and Ananias resolved that God’s way was his way, and he went to the house where Saul was and laid hands on him so that he might receive his sight. Ananias trusted God, picked up, and moved. Saul became the apostle Paul, and went throughout the known world establishing churches, preaching the gospel, and contributing thirteen books (if you give him Hebrews) to scripture.
In our sanctified life, we are going to be continually called to pick up and move. You are going to be called to a situation or circumstance where you must trust God. It may be a physical move, like, to another town, city or country. It may be a new ministry, or a relationship that you must develop; or let go of. When you are a disciple of Christ you have crucified yourself and it is his will and not yours. Are there going to be comfort zones, and social groups that you trend towards? Sure. Most folks are not jumping up and down to go preach to inmates on death row, or live with the elderly full time, but that’s why it's sacrifice, and that’s why it's faith. We must as Christians realize that God is not in a box; just because you feel comfortable preaching to the white middle class doesn’t mean he wants you to only preach to the white middle class. We must pick up and move. It may be hard and uncomfortable. It might cause us to re-evaluate ourselves, risk our safety, or upset our group. However, in the end it is always “thy will be done”. Christ picked up and left heaven for you and me; ought we not to do the same?
