Ananias Obedience: Courage and Forgiveness
I hope that you enjoyed reading P1 of this amazing story of a simple yet powerful disciple. Now let’s move to the next part and see how this disciple present his fears before the Lord and when God speaks to him, he does the un-thinkable. Ananias displays the ultimate demonstration of radical obedience: He went. He didn’t hesitated he acted. He chose to submit to the Lord’s clear instruction over his own legitimate fear. Think about that: he chose to walk right into the house of the man who planned to destroy his community!
Obedience over Fear
- Ananias knew the danger, but he trusted God’s plan more than he feared Saul’s violence.
- His choice proves that genuine obedience is rarely comfortable. It often demands that we put God’s mandate above our own personal safety.
Obedience Over Prejudice
Ananias was under no illusion about the man he was commanded to meet. He knew Saul’s reputation intimately: he was the violent persecutor of the Church, directly responsible for the suffering and death of countless believers.
Yet, upon entering the house, Ananias demonstrated a spiritual maturity rarely seen. He did not let his fear, anger, or prejudice guide his actions.
- He did not confront Saul.
- He did not lecture him about his past atrocities.
- He did not demand repentance or an apology.
The Obedience Characteristic
- Ananias entire demeanor was one of pure obedience to God’s immediate command. Ananias allowed the divine mandate to completely override his personal grievance.
- His obedience was so complete that his very first words to his former enemy were an act of profound, unconditional grace: he called him “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17).
- This single action perfectly illustrated that Ananias was operating entirely under the authority of the Holy Spirit, not under the natural, human desire for justice or revenge. His obedience was defined by instant forgiveness.
The Obedience Outcome
Ananias’s small, terrifying act of faithful obedience changed everything. He laid his hands on Saul, his sight returned, and Saul became the Apostle Paul—the man God used to write most of the New Testament and spread the Gospel across the world.
Without that one brave step from Ananias, the history of Christianity would look profoundly different. His story reminds us: The greatest, world-altering acts of obedience often begin with a command that challenges our safety and demands we extend grace to those we fear.
The Legacy of a Single Obedient Step
In conclusion the story of Ananias reminds us that the greatest acts of obedience are often simple, single steps taken in the face of profound difficulty. His choice to walk into the enemy’s house—to call his persecutor “Brother Saul” rather than confronting him—showcased an obedience rooted not just in duty, but in divine forgiveness. Ananias’s life was not defined by fame or grand sermons, but by that singular, obedient act of courage and grace, which unlocked the ministry of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
May we all be challenged by Ananias’s example: that true discipleship means setting aside our personal safety and prejudice when God commands us to act, trusting that our small step of obedience is capable of releasing God’s world-altering purpose.
Hope you are blessed by this act of obedience. Be Blessed.
