In C.S Lewis’ book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,
Lucy and the other Pevensie children have just made their way into Narnia and
are having dinner with a pair of beavers.
As Mr. Beaver is explaining to the children about the great lion Aslan
(who portrays Jesus in the Narnia series), young Lucy asks, “Is he safe?” Mr. Beaver replies, “Who said anything about
safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Many of us deeply desire to follow a safe Jesus. In our
passage this Sunday (Acts 9:10-19), both Paul and Ananias discover that Jesus
is anything but safe! Last Sunday, Doug
shared with us that Jesus blinded Paul for three days. Can you imagine what was racing through the
brilliant mind of Paul during those three days? Every presupposition that Paul had concerning
God, Jesus and salvation was torn down and rebuilt upon the truth of the living
Jesus. Think about it. If Jesus was alive, that means that his
resurrection claims were true. If his
resurrection claims were true, then his claim that he was God must be true as
well. If he is God then his claim to be
the way, truth and life and the only way of salvation must also be true. Every aspect of Paul’s life was forever
changed in those three days.
These claims have huge implications on our lives as
well. Walking with Jesus is not a safe
life. He challenges and changes
everything, confronts every sin and redirects our lives
according to his purpose. As our King he
often calls us to suffer and to do the impossible…just as he does Paul and
Ananias. How do we respond to
Jesus?
As you read through this passage in preparation for Sunday,
consider these three thoughts:
1) If you are walking with Jesus, his claim on your
life is absolute.
2) If you are walking with Jesus, he has redeemed
you for a purpose.
3) If you are walking with Jesus, his purpose for
your life involves other people.
