Pray for eyes to see, a heart like His, and arms that open a little wider

"Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin.

Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us."

Ezra Taft Benson

"The great debate across much of the world is about temporal day-to-day economic issues. Yet there is very little discussion about returning to Christlike principles focused on preparation to meet God and the condition of our spirits. We need to focus our lives and increase emphasis on spiritual matters."

Quentin L. Cook

"God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior's example and spend the days of their lives doing good."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"If we are faithful in keeping the commandments of God His promises will be fulfilled to the very letter. . . .

The trouble is, the adversary of men's souls blinds their minds.

He throws dust, so to speak, in their eyes, and they are blinded with the things of this world."

Heber J. Grant

by Emily Freeman

"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

Sometimes when I read the Bible, I like to substitute my name with the one that was written to provide a more personal read of the story–but not on this one.  I prefer for my sins to be spoken in whispers–if at all.

You remember the story.  On the road to Damascus.  I imagine it happening under the bright Judean sun.  No shadows to hide in and nowhere to run from the face to face interview.  A day of reckoning we will all be familiar with.  The light grew brighter than the sun and had the man's complete attention.  A one-on-one scene with an audience of angels.

In one sense, Saul (and soon to be Paul), is quite lucky.  Although the moment would have been terrifyingly awkward and full of shame, the Lord's midday intervention saved his life.  Judgment day was temporarily moved forward, and Saul was granted a second chance.  There might not be many things sweeter than second chances–a clean slate, a certified do-over.

With the distance of time and geography on our side, I cannot imagine there are many modern readers of the Bible who would not cheer with increased enthusiasm to let Saul try again.  The pages filled with mercy, grace, and forgiveness and marked and worn thinner than the rest of them in my book.  The champions for this cause are quite crowded.

Saul became great because he asked the right question.

"What wilt thou have me to do?"   Evidence of a heart that has changed course.

God's grace is not what is in question in this story.  That will always be a constant.  The questions lie in the nearby city–and you and I are citizens there.

Does enthusiasm grow hesitant when we find ourselves in the pages of the past? I heard a father once say–with good reason–"We all love the story of Saul…until he wants to marry your daughter." Perhaps it is human nature–the fleshy side-to question–even for faithful Ananias.

The instructions the Lord gave to Saul are to go see a ministering heart, a trusted and compassionate leader in a nearby city.  There he would be healed of blindness and tutored in the work of building the kingdom.

When the Lord gave Ananias his fair warning about his role to play, his nonchalance is powerfully instructive.  He spoke of Saul and instructed Ananias to heal him as if he were his own grandson.  There was no letting him down gently or stepping on eggshells with the request.  It was simple and straightforward.

Ananias cautiously questioned, reminding his omnipresent God the evil things that Saul had done to the saints.

"Go thy way," came the tender rebuke. "For he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings…"  He sees something more than what Ananias sees.  He knows something greater than the rest of us.

"And Ananias went his way…" And Saul–Saul unexpectedly redefines Christian discipleship.

I pray for eyes to see what He sees.  And a heart to feel more powerfully the potential God feels about individual souls.  Perhaps then, open arms will be my reflex, and God will trust those arms more.

Pray for eyes to see, a heart like His, and arms that open a little wider.