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 they are worthy of our help. We probably think they should be judged for their wickedness. That’s what Ananias thought about Saul of Tarsus, and for good reason. Before the events of this chapter, 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 verses 13 and 14 make it clear that Ananias knew all this. And since Ananias was a Christian, he knew that Paul was his sworn enemy.

But in verse 16, God makes it clear that He is the One Who is responsible for bringing people to justice. Yes, Saul had made many Christians suffer, and God told Ananias that Paul would receive exactly the sort of suffering and persecution that he had caused so many others to endure. But at the end of the day, that wasn’t really Ananias’ business. And sitting in judgment, even on those who have hurt us, isn’t our job, either.

Instead, God called Ananias to go to Saul, to proclaim the Lord Jesus to him, even though, for all Ananias knew, once Saul regained his sight he would immediately arrest him. 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 – He willingly gave it up precisely for the people who denied and abandoned Him, for His own people who despised and rejected Him. He died for sinners, sinners like those who have hurt sinners like us.

Are we willing to do the same, to reach 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 (ESV)

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of 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 evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.