Text: Acts 22:1-21
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” —Acts 22:16
This past week I had the honor of baptizing 6 youths at our summer camp for children affected by parental incarceration. It was a special moment during the baptism celebration when one of the youths, who had spent time in juvenile detention last year, addressed the entire camp saying, “Y’all are family to me now!”
After working with at-risk youth for nearly thirty years now, I’ve observed that young people will often rise to the level of expectation of those they have in their corner. As a former troubled teenager myself, I know from personal experience the life-changing difference that one mentor made in restoring my dignity, drawing out my potential, and urging me to follow God’s call on my life.
As Paul shared his testimony before an angry mob in Acts 22, he spoke of the one person who stood in his corner while most of the other Christians remained skeptical about whether or not his Damascus Road conversion was legitimate.
Paul pointed to Ananias, a devout man, as that person who “came to me,” and was “standing by me” amidst the skeptics (v.13). Ananias urged Paul, “Why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (v.16). Ananias was in Paul’s corner, accepting him while others rejected him (2 Timothy 4:16) and urging him to take those essential next steps in following his calling.
That same Paul would later go on to write a blueprint for how to encourage others by standing in their corner…
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:1-7)
In humility, whose interests do you need to look out for this week? Whose corner do you need to stand in this week? It’s not just troubled teenagers who need someone in their corner. Your child might need a fresh tangible expression of knowing you are in their corner right now. Maybe your spouse, a neighbor, or a coworker really needs affirmation that you are in their corner. Perhaps a person you haven’t spoken to in a long while really needs to hear from you right now.
Pray about that and look for intentionality in how to be someone else’s “Ananias” as you seek to abide in Christ this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you have been so good to me, positioning people in my life and putting those in my path who exhort me in my discipleship journey of following Jesus. Help me to be intentional as someone else’s Ananias in similar fashion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- Who has been in your corner when you really needed someone?
- What is really significant to you about Paul’s testimony?
- To whom do you need to serve as an Ananias this week?
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.
Text: Acts 22:1-21
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” —Acts 22:16
This past week I had the honor of baptizing 6 youths at our summer camp for children affected by parental incarceration. It was a special moment during the baptism celebration when one of the youths, who had spent time in juvenile detention last year, addressed the entire camp saying, “Y’all are family to me now!”
After working with at-risk youth for nearly thirty years now, I’ve observed that young people will often rise to the level of expectation of those they have in their corner. As a former troubled teenager myself, I know from personal experience the life-changing difference that one mentor made in restoring my dignity, drawing out my potential, and urging me to follow God’s call on my life.
As Paul shared his testimony before an angry mob in Acts 22, he spoke of the one person who stood in his corner while most of the other Christians remained skeptical about whether or not his Damascus Road conversion was legitimate.
Paul pointed to Ananias, a devout man, as that person who “came to me,” and was “standing by me” amidst the skeptics (v.13). Ananias urged Paul, “Why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (v.16). Ananias was in Paul’s corner, accepting him while others rejected him (2 Timothy 4:16) and urging him to take those essential next steps in following his calling.
That same Paul would later go on to write a blueprint for how to encourage others by standing in their corner…
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:1-7)
In humility, whose interests do you need to look out for this week? Whose corner do you need to stand in this week? It’s not just troubled teenagers who need someone in their corner. Your child might need a fresh tangible expression of knowing you are in their corner right now. Maybe your spouse, a neighbor, or a coworker really needs affirmation that you are in their corner. Perhaps a person you haven’t spoken to in a long while really needs to hear from you right now.
Pray about that and look for intentionality in how to be someone else’s “Ananias” as you seek to abide in Christ this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you have been so good to me, positioning people in my life and putting those in my path who exhort me in my discipleship journey of following Jesus. Help me to be intentional as someone else’s Ananias in similar fashion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.