Ryan's Ramblings

More Perspective

A few days ago I posted the video made by Zac Smith.  Here is a link to the post.  It is a powerful word for the Lord from a man whose physical life is ebbing away.  I mentioned in the earlier post how inspirational Zac's message has been to me.  I don't know how I ever came across Zac's video.  It doesn't matter.  Over the last few days his message has served as a great blessing and challenge to me and to those around me.  Glory to God.

In Zac's message he mentions that he went to high school in Ecuador.  A man I work with here in South Korea also went to school in Ecuador and he is about the same age as Zac.  I mentioned Zac's name and sure enough he knows Zac--he went to high school with him.  Yeah...wow.

Here is another video by Zac.  It appears that he made this one before the video that I posted a few days ago.  It is profound.  In the video he speaks backwards in time to his seventeen year old self.  It is powerful.  May God use it to speak to you as you live forwards into God's preferred future for your life.

Brother Saul

I didn’t become a Christ follower until I was a teenager.  As a young boy I used to go to church occasionally with my grandmother and I always found it odd that the people in the church referred to one another as “brother” and “sister.”  To me, it was a bit too intimate of a reference to bestow upon friends and acquaintances.  It just seemed strange and out of place.  At that time I didn’t have the maturity to fully understand and appreciate the Christian reference of “brother” and “sister” as a form of address of another person.

In chapter 9 in the book of Acts I read of a man named Saul who was, “…uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.”  In the biblical account Jesus knocked Saul off of his high horse and then sent one of his followers to pray for and care for Saul in his time of need.

Jesus sent Ananias to lay hands on and pray for Saul and Ananias didn’t like this idea.  He replied, “But Lord, Saul is the enemy.  He is a torturer and killer of Christians!”

Jesus’ response to Ananias was, “Go."

It is in verse 17 of Acts 9 that this interesting story takes an odd twist for me.  “So Ananias went and found Saul.  He laid his hands on him and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’”

“BROTHER Saul?!?”

It is strange enough to refer to fellow Christians and friends at church as “brother” and “sister,” but “BROTHER Saul?”  Why would Ananias do this?

Because Jesus said, “Go.”

Nearly forty years later I still don’t think that I fully understand why Christians would consider and address one another, and the people that make up the world around them, as “brother” and “sister.”  I am still immature in this realm of my faith.  1 John 4:9-11 is a good place for me to begin to grow up in this area.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

“BROTHER Saul?”

Jesus said, “Go.”

Perspective

I ran across this video in the midst of my blog wanderings.  I expected to be inspired.  Instead, I was challenged and gained a bit of perspective.  I can't stop thinking about this clip and its message.  And, I can't quit praying for Zac.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.