BROTHER SAUL
07th Feb 2017
Saul was a notorious persecutor of the Church, the new believers were in fear of their lives when he was in town. Yet on his journey to Damascus everything changed, he met Jesus and his life was transformed for ever.
God chose Ananias to be the one who would meet this new believer, who had been left blind and confused, and set him on the right track. At first he argued with the Lord, but having received an answer, set out on the commission given to him. The thing which struck me when reading this the other day was his initial greeting, “Brother Saul.” He did not ask him to explain what happened on the Damascus road, or whether he now had the right doctrine. There was instant acceptance, and as Ananias prayed, his eyes were opened, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was immediately baptised.
The tragedy is that the church and Christians all over the world have the reputation for falling out, judging, separating and mud slinging. Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20 says, “I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you....that they may be one as we are one.”
In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love, unity, affirming one another, protecting our bothers and sisters who are under attack, is what we should all be doing.
I heard this some time ago, “My brother is my brother, the devil is my enemy.” It does not mean we all believe exactly the same thing, but if my brother and sister have been received by Jesus and welcomed into His family, who am I to treat him or her like an outcast.
Today, reach out and repair any broken relationship that you might have in the Body of Christ.
by Charles Sibthorpe
