Three days after Saul had been knocked off his high horse and was blind and unable to eat or drink anything, this Ananias was praying.  In a vision, the Lord called him by name.  The Bible tells the story better than I ever could.

“Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

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.  In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.  And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go!”  This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

Can you imagine how frightened Ananias was?  He must have thought that God had no idea what He was doing.  “Why in the world,” Ananias must have wondered, “did God choose Saul?”  However, Ananias was faithful.  Regardless of his doubts, Ananias went to the house, found Saul, placed his hands on him and said, “To the stated enemy of the Christians, Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  The Bible says immediately Saul could see and Ananias baptized him and Saul regained his strength. 

One of the miracles in this story is the miracle of Ananias having faith and doing what must have seemed to him, ill-advised.  Regardless of the doubts that filled Ananias’ heart, he did what God commanded.  It could easily have meant his death.  Saul had put many others in prison.  He had the papers to put Ananias in prison.  But, when God called Ananias to receive Saul in the faith, Ananias addressed him as “Brother Saul” indicating that, already, Saul was a member of the Christian community.

When God calls us to face situations that seem ill-advised, we can be inspired by this Ananias who seemed serene and unafraid.  He was resolved to do as God commanded even if it meant his life.  Would we, as members of the Christian community, do the same thing that Ananias did for our enemies or those who hurt us?

Prayer:  Dear God, give us the same opportunity that Ananias had.  Amen.