Bible Passage: “The Lord told (Ananias), ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.'” (Acts 9:11 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-19
Were you ever bullied as a boy?
It’s hard to forget those who did that. Their faces and laughter are embedded in our inner selves like a sliver, because they deeply hurt.
How do we find healing from something like that?
In Acts 9, we read how Saul had an encounter with the living Jesus and went from bully to brother.
But it’s what God says to another man that intrigues me.
In Acts 9:10, God calls to a disciple named Ananias, but He doesn’t warn Ananias to get out of the city because Saul is coming.
Instead, God tells Ananias to go see Saul, pray for him, and bring him healing. Due to Saul’s violent actions against Christians and unaware of Saul’s encounter yet, Ananias struggles with this command, but obeys, and it is vital to Saul’s conversion to Christianity.
My days of being bullied have disappeared, but the memories haven’t. Over the years, I have bumped into some of these individuals and had conversations with them. One even apologized to me for what he had done.
But that’s not the point. Like Ananias, as a Christ-follower, I can’t hold on to my hurts. I need to let them go and surrender them to Jesus.
And the best way to do that is to pray for those who hurt us.
Here’s the truth that will set you free:
Have the same heart for them that Jesus has for them.
Ananias learned this when Jesus told him that Saul was His “chosen instrument to proclaim (His) name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel,” (Acts 9:15).
As men, we can no longer give our inner hearts to the tormentors of our past. Give your hurts to Jesus and pray for those who hurt you that they, too, will find the love and healing God has for them.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You love me. And thank You that You love _______ (fill in the person’s name) with the same love. Help me to pray for them so they, too, can know Your love for them. Amen.
Reflection: Who is one person that comes to mind that you can begin to pray for? Take time every day to pray a blessing for them.
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