Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (Acts 9:17-19a)
A woman was unkind to me last night. She belongs to a family different from mine, and I don’t understand her actions. I couldn’t tell her how sad she made me feel because her message was relayed through another. But most likely she was absorbed in her own gratification and was blind to my feelings.
The enemy places his scales in our eyes to cause blindness. With Paul they were scales of self-aggrandizement, greed, ignorance, and prejudice. While hidden, the scales prevented Paul from seeing himself as haughty, worldly, envious, or disliking people that were unlike himself.
With Paul and us, these scales are brought to the surface when we see the glory of God. Paul loves God and desperately wants his scales destroyed. God or Jesus could’ve eliminated them, but instead God uses ordinary people like Ananias or us to remove them. But how do we take away scales from another? Ananias doesn’t rebuke Saul; he loves him. He not only physically touches this man, bathing in guilt, but he touches him with the words, “Brother Saul.” Saul doesn’t deserve to be forgiven so quickly.
As I ponder last night, I know I must pray for an opportunity to touch the woman who hurt me. But God may use another to show her His love and tell her about the Holy Spirit, our comforter and source of power.
Father God, I praise you because the Holy Spirit that lives in me is greater than the one who is in the world. Let me see Your glory so my hidden scales become apparent. Send another to love me and Your Holy Spirit to fill me so I can shed Satan’s scales and be more loving to others. In Christ’s name, I pray, amen.