How do you treat people who have hurt you? At best, we tend to be polite to them in person, while doing our best to avoid them at all costs. At worst, we lash out in anger and perhaps even hatred. But how many of us would take a risk to help them?

For let’s face it: we probably don’t think such people are worthy of our help. Instead, we probably think they should be judged for their wickedness. That’s what Ananias thought about Saul of Tarsus, and for good reason. For before the events of chapter 9, Saul had been an active enemy of the Christian Church. In fact, he had come to Damascus for the express purpose of putting any Jewish people in prison who dared to make a public profession of faith in Christ. And 9:13-14 makes it clear that Ananias knew all this.

Yes, Saul had made many Christians suffer, but in 9:16, God assured Ananias that He would make sure Paul received exactly the sort of suffering and persecution that he had caused so many others to endure. For at the end of the day, sitting in judgment on Paul wasn’t Ananias’ business. And it isn’t our job either, even with regard to those who have hurt us.

Instead, God called Ananias to go to Saul and proclaim the Lord Jesus to him, even though, for all Ananias knew, once Saul regained his sight he would immediately arrest him. In short, God called Ananias to take a big risk so that a big sinner might receive salvation.

For when it comes right down to it, isn’t that what Jesus did for all of us? For He didn’t just risk His life like Ananias did. No, He willingly died for the people who denied and abandoned Him, for His own people who despised and rejected Him. He gave up His life for sinners, sinners like those who have hurt sinners like us.

So, are we willing to follow Jesus, reaching out to those who have hurt us? Will we risk being hurt again in order to proclaim the good news of God’s forgiveness?

Acts 9:10-19 (NASB)

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Behold, here am I, Lord.”
11 And the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem;
14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus.