“Occupy Our Streets”
“There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.” “Yes, Master?” he answered. “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying…” Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown upf here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.” But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to Gentiles and kings and Jews.” Acts 9:11-15 (MSG)
I’m betting Ananias didn’t wake up that morning expecting he was going to have pray for healing for the same person who was killing people he loved and cared for. I’m betting Ananias, as was the case with other Christians of his day, was thinking of ways to hide from and avoid Saul rather then trying to figure out his exact location. A house visit to his enemy was not on his agenda for the day. God has veto power though. Even though Ananias’ argument for not going to Straight St. was compelling and sound and would have certainly been supported by other believers, God said “Go” and that’s all there was to it. The questions that must have flooded his mind were many more then he actually voiced to God. Why me? Why choose this man who is a murderer to bring a message of hope? What if He doesn’t get healed and has me dragged off to jail or worse? Ultimately Ananias had to obey even in the midst of unanswered questions. He had to trust God knew what He was doing if it didn’t make sense. He had to know that even if this led to imprisonment or death God was invading Saul’s space through his servant. This is how it has always been and will continue to be how God moves. God shows the reality of who He is through His people. He calls us out of the shadows to show His light. God calls us to walk into uncertainty even when we are only certain of one thing- God will reveal Himself through this act of obedience.
I was talking with my good friend Pastor Doug Bursch the other day who was commenting on his radio show about the “Occupy Wall Street” movement and the other “occupy” demonstrations it has spawned throughout the nation and now in other countries. He closed his radio show praying that regardless of whether a person agreed with the politics behind this movement it was a great expression of solidarity and everyone’s right to express what is on their heart. He then prayed that God would occupy our streets and that we would hear what is on His heart! He shared this with me last week and it has stuck with me and come to a new point of realization this morning. The way God is going to occupy our streets, to reveal Himself as near and true and alive is going to be through His people. If Ananias was unwilling to leave the safety his home and head over to Straight St. and knock on the door of house of Judas he would have missed out on being the means by which God not only occupied Straight St., and the house of Judas, but Saul’s heart and consequently multiple streets, and homes, and towns and cities, and nations! Will I argue my well reasoned case before for staying where I’m at with those I know who are safe? Or will I take the challenge to step through the door of my home or the door of my church and head into the streets filled with Saul’s who either hate religion or have a misconception of who God really is? God has chosen that the way He will fill the earth with His Glory is through His Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered, and Spirit-led people. Look at what happened when visited Aeneas in Lydda, a man who had been in bed eight years paralyzed and was miraculously healed: “Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them”. (Acts 9:35)
Lord, as I was standing at the groundbreaking of the new school construction project at Shorewood High School I wondered why it had taken me so long to get there and to care enough to get there. I pray that even as You are mobilizing me to occupy the streets You have called me to, to build new relationships beyond my current ones, to find ways to serve the needs in our community that You would do the same in the church. I want Seattle to know what the citizens of Lydda and Sharon came to know- That you are alive and active among us!
