Witnessing behind the firing line – being an assist! - Acts 9

9th May
Acts 9
Witnessing behind the firing line – being an assist!
How often is Ananias remembered?  A man of faith empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the risk of ministering grace and power to Saul, (soon to be renamed Paul) ( v10-18 ) , despite his knowledge of Saul’s past and current declared intentions.  Ananias was a man who knew and loved the Lord sufficiently to dialogue with Him and lay down his life for his friend!

What about Barnabas - the son of encouragement ( v27 ).  Not even the apostles were anxious to meet Paul - this persecutor turned a witness ( v26 )!  The Stephen episode and subsequent harassment definitely was fresh in their minds.  After all Jerusalem was Saul’s operational base.  Then Barnabas dared to move close to Saul, satisfy himself about the genuineness of his conversion to the extent that he could explain to the apostles.  He, no doubt, lent an invaluable hand of support in getting Saul integrated into the fellowship ( v28 ).  Did it matter that this man spent the better part of his active ministry life in the shadow of and  being a support for Saul turned Paul?
What of the disciples in Joppa?  They definitely had no power to raise the dead but had enough faith to send to Lydda for Peter ( v36-43) .  Think of the “many people (who) believed in the Lord” ( v42 ) as a result of the miracle wroth through Peter when he raised Tabitha from the dead.
All these uncelebrated heroes of faith had one thing in common - They were witnesses empowered to be contented with fulfilling their assigned roles - being instruments to be used by God to assist the frontline witnesses!
Even in football and NBA ,as in all team sports,  the best assists are largely unknown, unsung, never as popular as the strikers and point-men but their roles, as assists, are most invaluable such that would render the big guys ineffective if the assists were absent from the team.
Paul later summed it up when he said that some one plants, another waters but God gives the growth.
All these men were contented being the best God intended them to be - assists!
Lord, help me daily to be sensitive to your promptings to witness behind the line through Jesus Christ my Lord.  AMEN.