“What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.”
Acts 22:16 (NLT)
Ananias does not just tell Paul that his sight has been restored. He tells him God has an assignment for him. Paul has been chosen to know the will of God, to see Jesus, to hear Him speak, and to carry the good news everywhere. Then Ananias asks the question that presses on the moment: What are you waiting for?
Paul could not wash away his own sin. Neither can we. It is the sacrifice of Jesus and His bloodshed that makes us right with God. It is the Holy Spirit who cleanses us, not the water of baptism or our decision to step into it. But when we publicly proclaim that Jesus is Lord and call upon Him, we are responding to the One who saves, commissions, and prepares us to serve.
So what has God encouraged you to do? Has He shown you your calling, your assignment, your mission? Maybe you are standing still, stuck in the past, distracted, or too busy to move. Call on the name of the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to help you, to give you courage, and to strengthen you to do what you can only do through relationship with Him, not through your own strength, wisdom, experience, or knowledge.
When the opportunity for baptism came in Acts, people responded immediately. They did not wait for a better service, a better setting, or a more convenient moment. If the Lord is stirring your heart to meet Him, go deeper with Him, obey Him, or share Him with others, then don’t delay. God has chosen you, loved you, and formed you for a purpose. You can be like Paul today and change direction in one moment by calling on the name of the Lord, being saved, and trusting the Holy Spirit with whatever assignment He gives you.