Brother

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 9.17

Love, love, love!

That’s what I would comment if this were a Facebook post. I would click on the heart icon and share this.

Imagine this – Ananias goes to Judas’ house on Straight Street. He knows Saul is there. He is opening himself up to the enemy. We think these guys are some kind of superstars, but they were just like us. Even with God’s instruction I say he swallowed hard when the door opened.

He came into the house and saw Saul sitting there…

What’s next? What are the next words heard?

‘Brother Saul.’

Ananias greeting Saul with one of the most precious title we use in the church. He called Saul brother. Just a few days before Saul had been an enemy – now he was a brother in Christ.

That term ‘brother’ is one that is used in a lot of ways. Where I grew up Christians use that title for each other and we are Brother Roger or Sister Mary just as a part of our names. I have to admit ‘Brother’ becomes a filler when you can’t remember a name though. Anyway, it is a special term on endearment and I still like. It acknowledges our familyship in Christ. It acknowledges the fact that we are Christians are all a part of the family of God. Here it showed that the former enemy was now a brother.

When we get upset at each other and division looms we need to remember that at the end of the day that those other Christians are our brothers and sisters. We have the same Father. No matter what the colour of our skin or the place of our birth or our political leanings or our style of worship or anything else we are one in Christ.

And we truly need our family today.