Hearing is seeing

‘He came to me, stood by me, and said, “Brother Saul, see again!” At that very moment I saw again and looked at him. He said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice. For you will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard.”‘ (verses 13-15)

Read Acts 21:37 – 22:16

We say that seeing is believing. But here we have a situation where Paul sees by hearing.

As Ananias spoke the words ‘Brother Saul, see again!’, Paul was able to see again. Now, as a result of hearing, Paul could truly see the truth regarding Jesus. He was chosen to see and hear Jesus so that he could tell others about what he had seen and heard.

You may not have experienced the kind of miracle that Paul experienced – the bright light, blindness and then being able to see again. But you have heard Jesus speak to you through people like Paul and those who continue to witness about what they have also seen and heard. More than likely you didn’t come to believe in Jesus through seeing pretty pictures but from hearing his story.

As you continue to listen to Jesus’ words and see the everyday miracles of breath, life and light, you too can tell others of what you have heard and seen. Then, by hearing, they also may come to see Jesus as their Saviour.

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of your voice. Amen.

by Stuart Kleinig, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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