“…Him?!”

That may not have been the exact word that the prophet Ananias spoke, but it does convey his incredulity at the Lord’s instruction.

There is none better to do mission work, to share the gospel
of the Savior with others,
than you and I. 

The Lord had commanded the prophet in a vision to go to the place where Saul of Tarsus was waiting for him. But the only type of “waiting for him” Ananias could envision was in line with what Saul was known for doing:

“Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name” (Acts 9:13-14). 

It was as much as to say, “…Him?!”

“…Him?!” Ananias saw an enemy of the Savior. But God saw one who would be a great witness to His love, grace, and forgiveness.

Ah, yes! Things had changed concerning Saul since the last time Ananias had heard of him—for now Saul was praying! He was no longer the rabid enemy of Christ and His people that he had been, but he was a “chosen vessel” of the Lord “to bear [His] name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (9:15).

“…Him?!” Ananias saw an enemy of the Savior. But God saw one who would be a great witness to His love, grace, and forgiveness.

And what God saw proved to be true! How many times over the years would Saul—who was soon to be known as the Apostle Paul—call to mind, speak, and write of what God had done for him. For example:
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…”
(1 Corinthians 15:9-10).

“…Him?!” Yes! There is none better to take the message of forgiveness in Jesus to others than one who has personally experienced that very forgiveness!

And you, dear reader, know what that means: There is none better to do mission work, to share the gospel of the Savior with others, than you and I.

…carrying out our Lord’s commission does not involve comparing ourselves with other gospel carriers.

What’s that? You don’t think you are capable? You can’t speak like angels or preach like Paul? (see TLH #496:2) That may be true, yet carrying out our Lord’s commission does not involve comparing ourselves with other gospel carriers.

Rather, it means comparing ourselves to God’s standard—seeing ourselves clearly in the mirror of those ten commandments, and then confessing our deep personal depravity, our sins and iniquities.

It is then—when we have recognized our sin and sinfulness and our great need for forgiveness AND the great Redeemer we have in Jesus—that we can join Paul in telling others how God has saved us, how He has given us freely what we do not deserve: full forgiveness of all sins and, with that, eternal life through Jesus.

And then we can make Paul’s words our own: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
(2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

“…Him?!”   Yes, Paul, but not just Paul!

“…You?!”   Yes, you!

“…Me?!”   Yes, me!

Yes, we who are chief of sinners are called and privileged to do mission work, to evangelize, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ who came to save from sin and death each of us—and each and every other person on Earth!

Is there really any question about it?!

Knowing Thee and Thy salvation,
Grateful love dare never cease
To proclaim Thy tender mercies,
Gracious Lord, Thy heavenly peace.
Sound we forth the Gospel tidings
To the earth’s remotest bound
That the sinner has been pardoned
And forgiveness can be found.  (TLH 498:4)