Brother Saul 兄弟扫罗

[Dexu Xia]

Placing his hands on Saul, [Ananias] said, “Brother Saul, the Lord . . . has sent me.” Acts 9:17

 “Lord, please send me anywhere but there.” That was my prayer as a teenager before embarking on a year as a foreign exchange student. I didn’t know where I would be going, but I knew where I didn’t want to go. I didn’t speak that country’s language, and my mind was filled with prejudices against its customs and people. So I asked God to send me elsewhere.  

But God in His infinite wisdom sent me precisely where I asked not to go. I’m so glad He did! Forty years later, I still have dear friends in that land. When I got married, my best man Stefan came from there. When he got married, I flew there to return the favor. And we’re planning another visit soon.

Beautiful things happen when God causes a change of heart! Such a transformation is illustrated by just two words: “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17).

Those words were from Ananias, a believer God called to heal Saul’s sight immediately after his conversion (vv. 10–12). Ananias resisted at first because of Saul’s violent past, praying: “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people” (v. 13).

But Ananias was obedient and went. And because he had a change of heart, Ananias gained a new brother in faith, Saul became known as Paul, and the good news of Jesus spread with power. True change is always possible through Him!

By:  James Banks

How have you sensed God calling you to have a change of heart? How can you encourage a new believer today?

Jesus, thank You for changing my heart with Your love. Help me to extend it to others.

[亚拿尼亚]把手按在扫罗身上说：“兄弟扫罗，……主……打发我来。”—使徒行传9章17节

 “主啊，祢让我去哪里都好，就是不要去那里。”这是我在十几岁时的一个祷告。当时我成为交换学生，即将展开为期一年的海外生活。我虽然不知道会被安排去哪里，但我知道自己不想去什么地方。因为我不会说那个国家的语言，对当地风俗与人民也充满偏见，所以我求上帝别让我去那里。

但上帝以祂无限的智慧还是让我去了那个国家。为此我十分感恩！如今四十年过去了，我还有一些好朋友在那个国家，其中包括史提芬。我结婚时，他做我的伴郎；他结婚时，我也搭飞机去当他的伴郎。如今，我们正计划找时间再聚一聚。

当上帝使人回心转意时，美好的事就会发生！亚拿尼亚说的“兄弟扫罗”（使徒行传9章17节），正是这种转变的最佳写照。

扫罗相信耶稣后，亚拿尼亚随即被上帝差遣去为扫罗祷告，让他重见光明（10-12节）。一开始亚拿尼亚因扫罗之前的恶名而不愿前往，且对上帝说：“我听见许多人说，这人怎样在耶路撒冷多多苦害祢的圣徒。”（13节）

但亚拿尼亚终究还是顺服了上帝。因亚拿尼亚回心转意，便多得了一位弟兄，扫罗成为福音使者保罗，而耶稣的福音也大有能力地被传开了。上帝总能带来真实的改变！

作者：  庞雅各

上帝曾如何呼召你回心转意？
今天你如何鼓励身边的初信者？

耶稣，感谢祢以祢的爱改变了我的心，
求祢帮助我，也能以祢的爱去关怀别人