Acts 9:8-16
And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

What a humbling place Paul found himself in. Here was a man who had position and authority. Here was a man feared by Christians everywhere. Here was a man exerting his will and having his way, in his own mind serving God but in reality persecuting Jesus Christ Himself. And now he cannot see and must be led by his companions. Now he waits for someone, who hours earlier he would have cast into prison, to come and restore his sight. Now he is humbled. Now he is helpless. Now he can be used by God.

Paul’s story is an amazing story. His conversion was dramatic. But his response to that experience is important and challenging to all of us. He would be used by God in a mighty way. He would serve the Lord with passion and unparalleled dedication. He even instructs Christians today through his words preserved in Scripture. He is a giant of the faith. But first he had to endure those days of darkness. First he had to pray and wonder and hope. First he had to examine himself and what he believed and what he had done and what he would now believe and do next.

A lot of what Paul would face next hinged on the faith and obedience of Ananias. He had to believe God. He had to make a choice. He had to face a man who had been the enemy of all that he stood for and help enable Paul to go forward into what God had for him. First Ananias is like, “Saul is someone I need to hide from. Why would I seek him out?” But what faith he demonstrates, what grace and love and compassion, to then show mercy to someone he knew to be a persecutor of Christians, maybe even someone who’d taken away people he knew and loved.

But this is the work of God and the power of God—to transform the vilest sinners into servants of love, grace, mercy and compassion. Ananias didn’t seek revenge or revel in Saul’s state. Instead he showed kindness and helped him. He served him and blessed him. That came from a heart of love that was willing to obey God even if he was afraid or didn’t understand or maybe even didn’t want to do what was asked of him. May both of these men and their stories encourage us to greater faith in Jesus, greater love for those around us, and greater service to God and His people.