Being De-scaled

Acts 9:17-19 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he

said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has

sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately

something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was

baptized, and took food and was strengthened.

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Have you ever noticed when a song you’ve heard countless times and never gave it much of a

thought, now goes straight to your heart? Words someone spoke to you way back when

suddenly grab you with real meaning? A book you scanned through along the way now gets

your undivided attention? How could that happen?

Something profound has happened that has that has made you not only see and hear, but also

observe and absorb and be hungry for more. At another time it would have been just another

song, book, movie or conversation, but now the words go directly to your being, a message

meant for you. What might have happened to have something hit like that? Something

wonderful like a new baby, reconciling with someone, finding new friendship or new love? Or

something sad like a death, divorce, estrangement from a loved one, a bad diagnosis?

Something momentous. In an instant our perceptions change. The Apostle Paul found this out

when the risen Jesus got his attention by not only speaking to him but also blinding him on the

road to Damascus. He became a completely different person, from a murderer to an evangelist

in an instant and able to see the world in this new light after Ananias, sent by Jesus, touched

Paul’s eyes and his sight was restored.

Becoming born again, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, is absolutely the most

momentous event you can experience. In my case scales fell out of my brain as well as from

my eyes. The sky looked more blue, the air was fresher, and I was hungry to learn as much as

possible about this new life by reading my Bible, attending Bible studies, and being around other

seasoned Christians. I found myself listening intently to sermons and taking in the information

that had been there all along, with my my mind focused on the message instead of wandering

into the weeds and planning my grocery shopping.

What is your experience in accepting Jesus? Whether you’re seasoned or a newbie, can you

take some time to put into words the feelings about the journey you’re on with Him? Is there

someone you can share that with who doesn’t know the love of Jesus, or whose walk with Him

has become frayed? Who knows? You might be the one to impart “something profound” to

someone and get them on the road to observing and absorbing His word and His love.

Janet Witt