Beloved Enemy
Sometimes the most healing hands come from those whose names once stirred fear—God rewrites every story.
Devotional Credit: Immeasurably More
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In today’s reflection from Ray Stedman, we’re drawn into the gentle and sovereign orchestration of God’s grace at work in the life of Saul, freshly converted and newly born into the family of Christ. The passage from Acts 9 shows us that one of the first gifts Saul receives after his dramatic encounter with Jesus is not solitude or private revelation—but connection. He is placed in the care of two believers, Judas and Ananias, whose very names might have stirred suspicion, given their more infamous biblical namesakes. Yet the Spirit deliberately redeems those names here, using these individuals to welcome Saul into the living fellowship of Christ’s body.
Ananias, understandably wary, is asked to go to the man who had once struck fear into the church. But the Lord speaks to his heart with a quiet assurance: He is praying. In that simple phrase, we see the evidence of a changed heart. Prayer is not a performance—it is the overflow of a soul turned toward God. And so Ananias goes. He lays hands on Saul, restoring sight to more than just physical eyes. This is a moment of healing and of union—a former enemy welcomed not only by Christ but by Christ’s people.
This scene reminds us that our first steps as new creations are not meant to be walked alone. We are placed within the body. We are held, healed, and strengthened through others who also carry His name.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
You were once blind, but now you see—not just Me, but those whom I’ve placed around you. I have drawn you into My life, but not in isolation. I knit you into My body, where love is poured out, where My presence is shared in laughter, tears, prayers, and hands laid gently upon you.
I often call My own to minister to those who seem least likely. And when I do, I go before them. I quiet their fears. I remind them of My grace. Saul was known for persecution, yet one whisper of “he is praying” was enough to disarm Ananias' fear. It still is.
Prayer is the first movement of life in Me. It is not always with words—it is sometimes a soul’s gaze upward, a breath of surrender, a silent knowing that I am near. From that moment on, I begin to restore. I call My people to one another because you are not designed to walk in Christ apart from His body.
When you look at others, don’t let names, reputations, or past scars dictate your response. I am rewriting stories. I have sent you to those who once were enemies, now beloved. And just as I used Ananias and Judas, I will use you.
Scriptures: Acts 9:10–12, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 2:19–22
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like walking into a hospital waiting room and realizing that the very nurse coming to bring you comfort bears the name of someone who once caused you pain. At first, you brace. But as she speaks gently, takes your hand, and calls you by name, something shifts. The name no longer carries the weight of the past—it becomes a vessel of healing. That’s what the Holy Spirit did with Ananias and Judas. That’s what He still does today. He rewrites stories, even in the smallest details.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You for placing me in Christ—and in His body. I rejoice that I’m not meant to walk this journey alone. Thank You for sending those into my life who carry Your presence, even if their names or pasts once made me hesitant. You are always working redemptively. I trust You to rewrite the stories around me and within me. Today, I rest in the truth that I belong—not just to You, but with Your people. And I welcome those You bring into my life, knowing You go before me.