Anyone who wants to see the power of the gospel unleashed in a single word only need read what Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus that day when they met for the first time in the house of Judas on a street called Straight. Ananias was not extremely excited about going to the place where Saul was waiting. The Lord had told him Saul was expecting him, but such did not likely erase all his anxiety and fear. Saul came to Damascus with murderous intent against believers of Jesus and Ananias was a card carrying member. When Ananias arrived his first words were, "Brother Saul,..." (Acts 9:17)
For the one whose life was in danger to call the one who was a threat to his life "Brother" is no less than a miracle. Some may say the blinding light on the road which set Saul of Tarsus on his way to becoming Paul the Apostle was a great miracle, but it was no greater miracle than the one which took place in the house of Judas. Any watcher of what was unfolding would have declared such to be an impossible thing. Two men who were antagonist suddenly became brothers. Enemies became partners in accomplishing the work of God.
Paul may have gone out from that place and been used as an instrument to change the world, but it was Ananias modeling and fleshing out reconciliation that illustrated to Saul how people who were so different could be reconciled and made as one through the power of Christ. Saul certainly knew it was not what he deserved from the one he sought to destroy. But, then, reconciliation is never about giving or receiving what is deserved. It is something experienced because Christ has come to make us one with God and one with each other. Ananias was gripped by that reality and it changed the way he lived in the world. When we are truly in the grips of the gospel, reconciliation will always be more important than being in the right.
For the one whose life was in danger to call the one who was a threat to his life "Brother" is no less than a miracle. Some may say the blinding light on the road which set Saul of Tarsus on his way to becoming Paul the Apostle was a great miracle, but it was no greater miracle than the one which took place in the house of Judas. Any watcher of what was unfolding would have declared such to be an impossible thing. Two men who were antagonist suddenly became brothers. Enemies became partners in accomplishing the work of God.
Paul may have gone out from that place and been used as an instrument to change the world, but it was Ananias modeling and fleshing out reconciliation that illustrated to Saul how people who were so different could be reconciled and made as one through the power of Christ. Saul certainly knew it was not what he deserved from the one he sought to destroy. But, then, reconciliation is never about giving or receiving what is deserved. It is something experienced because Christ has come to make us one with God and one with each other. Ananias was gripped by that reality and it changed the way he lived in the world. When we are truly in the grips of the gospel, reconciliation will always be more important than being in the right.
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