But to Brother

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord…has sent me.’” Acts 9:17

Ananias knew trouble was on its way, but he hadn’t planned on looking for it—until God said so. The conversation went something like this:

“Ananias.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a guy named Saul.”
“Saul?!? But, Lord, are you sure? I’ve heard about this guy—he’s been assaulting your people in Jerusalem, and he’s come to Damascus to arrest us too!!”
“Yes, Ananias, I’m sure. I know all about him. I know all he’s done to Me, and I know all he’s going to do for Me. You just go!!”

So “Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord…has sent me’”(Acts 9:17). The distance between “But, Lord” and “Brother Saul” may have only been a few blocks, but in that short space, Ananias traveled a long way. He left prejudice and arrived at acceptance. He journeyed from crippling fear to overcoming faith. And his heart made room for an enemy to become family. “Brother Saul.”

Ananias’ visit brought comfort and connection to a man whose world had been turned upside down by Jesus. For three days, Saul had eaten nothing, drank nothing, and seen nothing—for God’s light had left him blind. All he had done was pray and wait. “Go into the city, and you will be told what to do”(Acts 9:6). But suddenly, a knock at the door, the touch of two hands, and Spirit-filled words brought hope and life to Saul’s wondering heart. “Placing his hands on Saul, [Ananias] 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’”(Acts 9:17). At that very moment, “something like scales” fell from Saul’s eyes restoring his sight. “He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength”(Acts 9:18).

God could have transformed Saul without any help from Ananias, but how exciting that He uses His own to encourage and receive those who believe. And, along the way, God changes both of us in the process. Don’t let someone’s past cause you to be unsure of their salvation. You may have heard much about them, but all they’ve done without Christ can’t compare to what they will do with Christ. “You just go!!”

Make the journey from “But” to “Brother” and be amazed at what Jesus does.