10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. – Acts 9
Imagine you are washing your dishes and God appears to you in a vision asking you to heal a known enemy. Your first thought may be safety for your family in case it fails, it might be worry that your fellow Christians would be upset with you, or the concern may be that God didn’t choose you for this task. In any case, this would not be easy! This is exactly what God asked of Ananias.
If you read my last devotional, you saw that the apostle Paul actually used to be a religious leader named Saul. Saul persecuted Christians and as scripture says he was present at Stephen’s stoning (the first Christian martyr). So when God asked Ananias to heal Saul he was asking him to do something that truly was counter human.
It is the way of humans to disregard people who have hurt us. If you do not believe me, just come and listen to our middle schoolers talk about their school drama. Do we blame each other for being this way? No, I definitely understand the temptation to hold grudges against someone who has hurt me or my family. Today’s story teaches us that, though we are made in God’s image, we are very different from God.
God’s love for creation extends well beyond what we can comprehend. Saul on one hand was killing the very people God chose to proclaim the gospel of His son. On the other hand, God loved Saul very much. One thing that God has which I believe we can aspire to have is an imagination. If you met me when I was younger, you probably would have never guessed I was going to be a pastor. I definitely would not have guessed it. But God, in his infinite love and imagination, set my life aside for something I couldn’t comprehend.
Whenever you encounter that person who really grinds your gears, try to have God’s imagination. Imagine a future with that person that is wholesome, pure, and loving. Imagine the love that God has for that person. Imagine Jesus healing you from the pain that person caused. It will not be easy. In many cases, it will be the hardest thing you have ever tried to do. BUT, if Saul can become Paul. Your enemy can become your sibling in Christ.
Pastor Mat