The Bible mentions thousands of proper names for cities, countries, and territories, but I know of only one street that Scripture names. The Lord told Ananias to go to Straight Street. This may be more than an incidental detail, for Ananias not only went to Straight Street but straight to a leader in persecuting the Christians. He went straight to Saul, "laid his hands" on him, called Saul his brother, said he was sent by Jesus, healed Saul of blindness, and baptized him (Acts 9:17-18).
When we have been offended by someone, we should go straight to that person, and not do anything else or go to anyone else (Mt 18:15). "When you are ill, delay not, but pray to God, Who will heal you: flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin" (Sir 38:9-10). Don't go to the doctor or medicine cabinet first. Go straight to God. To fight abortion, go straight to the abortionists and parents of the babies. In war, go straight to the enemy with the gospel.
When Straight Street is the first street we go down, we often find it the only street we need to travel. Straight Street leads us in the right direction. When Straight Street is our Main Street, then we will see Sauls change to Pauls, sin to salvation, division to reconciliation, sickness to health, and death to life.
| PRAYER: | Father, may we prove ourselves "innocent and straightforward, children of God beyond reproach in the midst of a twisted and depraved generation" (Phil 2:15). |
| PROMISE: | "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." –Jn 6:53 |
| PRAISE: | Our Lady of Fatima got straight to the point: "Pray! Pray! Pray!" |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College