The Light of Christ Journey

Encouraging people on their journey with Christ

Made Whole Through Life’s Obstacles

Tom Graves

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June 15, 2026

Being made whole in Jesus through life’s obstacles is not the path most of us want to go down. In God’s plan for our lives, obstacles can be times of testing that help us become better people. Perhaps as you read this, there is a major obstruction in your life that you are trying to overcome. Obstacles are not always setbacks. Sometimes they are divine setups. They are God’s way of leading us toward something better. Often, they are the very means by which Jesus makes us whole.

In the Gospel of Mark 2:2–5, four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, only to find the house too crowded to enter. The obstacle was real. The crowd blocked the door. The way forward seemed impossible. But instead of turning back, they went up. They dug through the roof and lowered their friend directly in front of Jesus.

What looked like a hindrance became the pathway to wholeness.Mark 2:5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” [1] Before healing his body, Jesus healed his soul. The greatest obstacle in the man’s life was not paralysis—it was sin. And in one divine moment, Jesus made him whole from the inside out.

Obstacles Help Us Rely on Jesus

Have you ever tried to handle life on your own, only to discover how much you need God? I remember coming to the end of myself. I had been sensing for months what the Holy Spirit was asking me to do, yet I had been resisting it. The difficulty did not go away: it intensified. Finally, when I surrendered, I realized something powerful: the obstacle was not there to defeat me but to draw me closer to Jesus.

Psalm 145:8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [2] He patiently allows circumstances that bring us to the end of ourselves so we can discover that wholeness is found in Him alone.

Obstacles Can Redirect Us Toward Wholeness

Sometimes obstacles are God’s way of changing our direction. What feels like a closed door may actually be Jesus guiding us into deeper faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.[3] Faith stretches us. It moves us beyond comfort and self-reliance. When Jesus calls us to walk by faith, He is not trying to make life harder—He is making us whole. Trusting Him reshapes our character and deepens our dependence on Him.

Obstacles Refine Us

God often uses difficulties to refine us. Pride and self-sufficiency cannot survive long when we hit the wall of life. Trials expose what is weak so Jesus can strengthen it. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us that faith is tested and purified like gold. Refinement is not punishment; it is preparation.   

 Through trials, Jesus removes the broken and restores what reflects Him. The paralyzed man’s greatest obstacle brought him face to face with Jesus. And that encounter changed everything. The obstacles in your life today may feel overwhelming. But they may also be the very tools Jesus is using to bring you to Himself. Because when we are led to Jesus, He makes us whole. To learn more about made whole through life’s obstacles, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/made-whole-by-forgiveness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Wholeness Through Divine Intervention

Tom Graves

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June 14, 2026

Wholeness through divine intervention may not be our plan, but it is God’s. We may think we have our own path figured out, but the good news is the Lord always has a better one. His plans require divine intervention—and that intervention is always aimed at making us whole.

We often think we know best until we reach a dead end or find ourselves stuck in the mud and mire. Then we cry out to God. Psalm 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.[1]

Sometimes His intervention comes through circumstances that interrupt our plans. Other times, He places a new calling on our hearts. I experienced this personally. I worked in manufacturing engineering until the Lord called me into deeper waters as a pastor. That divine intervention did not just redirect my career—it transformed my life and my family’s. Jesus was not simply changing my plans; He was making me whole through obedience.

Jesus Looked to the Father for His Plans

In Mark 2, four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Their determination led them to break through a roof just to place him before the Lord. This interruption could have frustrated any teacher. But Jesus was never driven by His own agenda. In John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.[2]

What seemed like an interruption was actually divine intervention. Jesus saw their faith, but before addressing the man’s physical condition, He forgave his sins. Why? Because wholeness starts in the soul. The paralysis was visible, but the deeper need was spiritual. Through divine intervention, Jesus made the man fully whole. He was spiritually forgiven and physically restored. His life was transformed, and so were the lives of those watching.

Let the Lord Make You Whole

What if we began each day asking the Lord to interrupt our plans? What if we welcomed His divine intervention instead of resisting it? God is good, and everything He does is good. When He changes our direction, it is never random or cruel. He is not manipulating us; He is transforming us. His goal is always to shape us into the likeness of Jesus and prepare us for eternity.

Wholeness in Jesus often comes disguised as interruption. God’s plans are not always easy, I can testify to that. But they are always good. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. [3] When we surrender our agenda, we discover something greater than success: we discover the deeper meaning of faith. Divine intervention is not God disrupting your life. It is Jesus making you whole.

To find out more about wholeness through divine intervention, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/made-whole-by-forgiveness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Restored and Found

Tom Graves

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June 13, 2026

When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he was restored and found a new life. As the chief tax collector in Jericho, he appeared to have it all, yet he may have felt empty inside. When he heard Jesus was passing by, he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him. A spark of hope probably ignited as Jesus called to him, saying, “Come down quickly, I must stay at your house today.”

The Holy Spirit had already been at work in Zacchaeus, and now Jesus planned to visit his home. Zacchaeus walked away with Jesus joyfully despite the crowd’s grumbling. While Jesus aims to restore people and lead them to salvation, the crowd was upset about showing compassion to a well-known sinner. In many ways, all of us are like Zacchaeus. Without the intervention of our Savior, we are lost.

Restoration Changes Us

The restoration of Zacchaeus was evident when his view of his material possessions changed. Luke 19:8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” [1]

Zacchaeus’ heart changed, and it positively affected the people he had unfairly taxed. Our lives are like ripples in a pond because they’re connected to so many others, like a giant web. This text doesn’t say whether Zacchaeus continued to be a tax collector. If he did, he would have had the opportunity to share with others the grace of God that he received and how it changed his life.

The Gift of Salvation

The greatest gift Zacchaeus received that day was salvation. Luke 19:9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” [2]  By surrendering his will to the work of the Holy Spirit, Zacchaeus’s life would now be completely different. Instead of building his life on the riches of this world, he was building it on the riches of Christ. This is where Zacchaeus’s life is an example for people throughout the ages.

Without Jesus in our lives, we are empty, but it need not end that way. Philippians 3:9Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.[3]

We need to be like Zacchaeus and lay down what we once treasured and receive the gift Christ freely offers. It is then that we discover a salvation that restores our purpose and fills our emptiness with eternal hope. The same Savior who sought and found him still seeks us today. Jesus is ready to transform every surrendered heart with the incomparable riches of His grace.

To learn more about being restored and found by Jesus, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

Evidence of Transformation

Paula K. Graves

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June 12, 2026

Zacchaeus demonstrated evidence of transformation that had happened in his heart as Jesus came to his house. Luke 19: 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” [1]

Tax collectors were notorious for cheating because they could keep the extra money they collected. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus probably cheated both the tax collectors under him and the public. As a Jew, other Jews would have looked down on Zacchaeus for his involvement with the pagan Romans. Thus, he was despised and hated by the townspeople.

Yet, by his declaration, the money that had been so significant before is no longer important. Zacchaeus is willing to make extravagant recompense at a rate far over that of the Old Testament law. Numbers 5: 7 They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.[2] His actions demonstrated a significant change of heart.

The Cost of Discipleship

While Jesus gives us grace for salvation as a free gift, it cost Jesus everything. As we follow Jesus, we receive this free gift, but it will cost us our lives as we live for Him. Jesus warned of this. Luke 14: 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?[3]

We can only live this demanding life of discipleship with Jesus’ help. John 15: 5 Yes, I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing…8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. [4]

True Faith Leads to Action

Discipleship requires knowledge for faith. But that faith must result in action. James 2: 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.[5] We can’t save ourselves by good deeds. Good deeds are to be the fruit of our faith. They are our way of honoring and thanking Jesus for what He has done for us. Good deeds are evidence of transformation.

Transformed hearts result in transformed lives. The type of life reflects what is in the heart. Titus 1: 15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good. [6] May we all allow Jesus to transform our hearts and strengthen us to live lives that reflect that transformation and glorify God. To find out more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Overcoming Societal Judgments

Tom Graves

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June 11, 2026

Overcoming societal judgment is challenging and requires God’s strength, as Zacchaeus’s story illustrates. We may like to think people’s critical comments don’t affect us, but they do. As Jesus entered the town of Jericho on His way to die for our sins, He encountered a man named Zacchaeus. He was so eager to see Him he climbed up a sycamore-fig tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

Luke 19:5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. [1]

In this brief moment, we gain insight into the hearts of those who witnessed the interaction between Zacchaeus and Jesus. Instead of rejoicing in God’s grace, our sinful nature often seeks to drag people down to our level. The good news is we don’t have to respond this way. Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [2]

Focus on Jesus

When the crowd grumbled at Zacchaeus for Jesus’s desire to stay at his house, he was undeterred. Despite his status and wealth as the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus felt empty inside. The crowd was displeased with Zacchaeus, but Jesus’ love enveloped him, enabling him to move beyond their comments.

In the Gospels, the religious leaders often complained about the people Jesus ministered to. Zacchaeus may have been a person of questionable character, but no one is beyond the reach of the Good Shepherd. Paul tells us about the importance of pressing forward with our eyes on Jesus. Philippians 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.[3]

Building Up Others

As believers in Jesus, we have many opportunities along our journey of faith to build others up. Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [4] In a world quick to criticize and condemn, we best reflect Jesus by choosing words that heal rather than hurt.

In a culture driven by opinions and public judgment, our encouragement stands as a strong testament to grace and compassion. Overcoming societal judgment isn’t about tearing others down but about faithfully uplifting them in love. By doing so, we become instruments in the Lord’s hands, helping to make people whole through Jesus’s love.

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Tyndale House Publishers.

Joyful Reception of Jesus

Paula K. Graves

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June 10, 2026

Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to see Jesus, and Jesus asked to come to his house. Zacchaeus responded with a joyful reception of Jesus. Luke 19: 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. [1]

While Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus, Jesus was the one who took the initiative. “This is the only instance in the four Gospels of Jesus inviting Himself to someone’s home.”[2] Jesus did not preach condemnation to Zacchaeus. It appears that Jesus wanted to have a meal and time to spend together with Zacchaeus.

This is the kind of situation John described. Revelation 3: 20 “Look! I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.[3] Jesus desires a relationship with us.

Zacchaeus’ Response

Zacchaeus was not embarrassed or irritated that Jesus had invited Himself over for a meal. On the contrary, he received the Lord with great excitement and joy. He immediately climbed down from the tree and took Jesus to his house.

The Greek word translated quickly in verse 6 is “speudo.”It can mean to make haste or to desire earnestly.[4] I think Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree because he really did earnestly desire a visit from Jesus. His joyful response demonstrated his faith and a willing heart.

The community saw him as a notorious sinner. They couldn’t believe that he was redeemable. He was used to ignoring what people said about him, and he continued to ignore the crowd. At this point, he seems to be willing to change his life.

How do We Receive Jesus?

Even though Zacchaeus was a wayward Jew, he would have known what David said. Psalm 16: 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. [5]

Our story takes place only days before Jesus will be crucified. The Father will not let Jesus stay in the tomb, and three days later, Jesus will rise from the dead. At this point, Zacchaeus would not know this. But he would have known that there was joy in the presence of God with the promise of living forever. Jesus, as the Son of God, brought that joy.

The presence of Jesus transformed Zacchaeus and can still transform us today. Our joyful reception of Jesus’ transforming work comes through faith. Jesus did pay the price for our sins on the cross. When we confess and repent, He begins to make us new. Our obedience to Jesus will bring joy and fulfillment that the world can never give. How do you receive Jesus?

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1,3,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 252). Victor Books.

[4] G4692, Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Jesus Knows Your Name

Tom Graves

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June 9, 2026

Today, billions of people inhabit the earth, yet Jesus knows your name and understands your struggles. Scripture calls believers the sheep of His pasture, and our loving Shepherd knows each of us personally, even when we don’t know Him. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, was making His way toward Jerusalem to lay down His life on the cross for our sins. Yet, He still took time to minister to individuals along the way—even the most unlikely. One such man was Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of the region. He was a man of great wealth but little honor in his community.

When Jesus entered his town, Zacchaeus was determined to see Him. Because he was short in stature and unable to see over the crowd, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree along the roadside where Jesus was about to pass. One can only imagine the anticipation building in his heart as the sound of the approaching crowd grew louder. Then Jesus drew near to the very tree in which he was perched. Luke 19:5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” [1].

Jesus Wants Us to Know Him Personally

 When Jesus Christ called Zacchaeus by name, it likely came as a shock. Not only does Jesus know Zacchaeus’s name, but He also understands that his deepest need is not wealth or status, but to become a child of God. That is the only way he can be made whole. Instead of keeping His distance, Jesus expressed a desire to spend time with Zacchaeus. He even chose to be a guest in his home. This choice is especially significant because, as a tax collector, Zacchaeus is probably disliked and avoided by many in the community. Yet Jesus deliberately sought him out and stayed at his house.

That personal, unexpected encounter changed everything, transforming Zacchaeus into someone new. In the same way, Jesus cares about you. He understands the struggles you face and sees the wrong choices we have all made. Yet He still desires a relationship with us. The words written by the Apostle John speak to Jesus’ desire to have a relationship with you. Revelation 3:20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. [2]

The Urgency of Jesus

Jesus’s words to Zacchaeus about coming down from the tree and staying at his home carry a sense of urgency. Jesus knew Zacchaeus’s heart was ripe and open to further conversation, and He made time for him. Although Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to sacrifice Himself for our sins, He still paused to help someone in need. Jesus desired to make him whole. Jesus’s sense of urgency should influence how we perceive others around us.

Who around you needs a word of encouragement, prayer, or to hear the good news about Jesus? Sometimes this person may be a stranger, yet the Lord is prompting us to act to care for someone who needs to be made whole. Jesus knows everyone’s names, even when we do not. When we see others through His perspective, we can recognize and serve them as He leads us.  Remember, Jesus knows your name. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Climbing to See Jesus

Paula K. Graves

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June 8, 2026

Zacchaeus was a worldly, wealthy man. But we see him climbing to see Jesus in our story. Luke 19: 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.[1] Jesus had been ministering for three years and was well known as a preacher and healer. He had just healed a blind man on the way into town, and this news had probably preceded Him.

Zacchaeus was a wealthy government official, but there was a problem. He was too short to see over the crowds. It seemed everyone in town wanted a glimpse of this miracle worker. In that culture, grown men did not run as it was not considered proper. Grown men also did not climb trees because that was childish. It would have been humiliating to be seen running in public, let alone to be seen climbing a tree.

Desperate Actions

Zacchaeus’ actions demonstrate his strong desire to see Jesus. A sycamore tree with its wide lateral limbs is easy to climb and would have given him a good view of the street. We are not told of his mental state as he embarrassed himself by running and climbing a tree. Was Zacchaeus tired of his life? Did he want a change? Why did Jesus intrigue him? We don’t know for sure.

Even today, many adults would like to get closer to Jesus but find it uncomfortable and potentially costly. They are afraid of being shamed in public and so avoid seeking Jesus. Yet, Jesus is willing to meet us where we are. Matthew 9: 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”[2]

Jesus Has Mercy

Jesus can see past our human limitations because He understands our desire for connection and wholeness. Psalm 139: 1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.[3]

We have an enemy who does not want us to get closer to Jesus. Satan will use anything he can to put obstacles in our way. Pride often keeps us from humbling ourselves and seeking Jesus. We often don’t want to admit our faults and our need for a Savior. Yet our hearts yearn for the peace and hope that come from knowing Jesus.

It can be a battle, but the Holy Spirit advocates for us. Romans 8: 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.[4] Jesus will meet us where we are because Jesus wants to connect with us. Just as Zacchaeus was climbing to see Jesus, Jesus will meet us in our meager effort to reach Him. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Worldly Wealth and Spiritual Poverty

Tom Graves

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June 7, 2026

Zacchaeus’s story was one of worldly wealth and spiritual poverty until he was drawn to Jesus. Our Savior was journeying to Jerusalem to lay down His life for sinners.Luke 19:1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.[1]

In many ways, Zacchaeus was a lost sheep seeking the wrong things in his life. He was caught up in the world while neglecting the most important part of life. As we drift away from the Lord, we begin to fill our lives with what the world says is important because that is the voice we are listening to. Jesus had asked His disciples a question earlier. Mark 8:36And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”[2]

Although Zacchaeus would have been seen as successful by world standards, the Lord was at work in his heart, revealing his need for something more. For any of us, only Jesus can make us whole, and that is through a personal relationship with Him.

Jesus Sees Our Spiritual Poverty

As we toil on this earth, Jesus sees our spiritual poverty. He sees how we struggle to fill our lives with things that never satisfy. Because Jesus loves us, He not only sees us, but is the God of intervention who reaches out to us. No matter how far you have drifted away from the Lord, His love can draw us back as we humble ourselves. When we humble ourselves, we realize life does not go on forever, and then what?

Joel 2:12 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. [3] Worldly wealth can often hold us in what some describe as the velvet handcuffs. It is the Lord who opens our eyes and reveals the depth of our spiritual poverty and that true riches found in Him. Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world. When we turn to Him as our Savior, we walk out of the world’s darkness into His marvelous light and are made whole.

Put on the New Nature in Christ

Paul writes about the importance of leaving behind our old life. Ephesians 4:22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [4] There is something about putting on the new nature in Christ that changes our life in this world and the next.

As we begin to look at life through a different lens, everything changes. That is because the Holy Spirit leads us on a different path in life. Wholeness does not come from adding more to our lives. Wholeness comes from surrendering what we have and who we are to Him. When we admit our emptiness, Jesus fills us with His presence. In Him, the spiritually poor find true riches—peace with God, restored identity, and lasting joy. Only Jesus can take a life that looks complete on the outside and make it truly whole within. To learn more about worldly wealth and spiritual poverty, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith

[1-4 Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

See Through God’s Eyes

Paula K. Graves

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June 6, 2026

God had told Ananias that He had a mission for Saul. This enabled Ananias to see through God’s eyes. Ananias knew of Saul’s reputation for persecuting Christians and was understandably afraid of him. But Ananias’ faith was stronger than his fear, and he obeyed God’s instructions.

Acts 9: 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[1]

Ananias knew that Saul’s original intention was to come and imprison the believers, including himself. Ananias offers significant insight by greeting Saul as a brother. Saul had done nothing to prove that he had changed, but Ananias chose to see Saul not by his past but by God’s promise.

God’s Restoration

Saul couldn’t see Anaias as he arrived, but he would have sensed God’s love through the laying on of hands. Here, the power of God was working through a human. A complete transformation often involves both divine intervention and human action. Acts 9: 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. [2]

God, through Ananias’s hands, restored Saul’s physical sight, but more importantly, the Holy Spirit filled him. God doesn’t just fix us, He fills us. True restoration is not merely external; the Holy Spirit empowers it. It is the Spirit who equips us for purpose, witness, and endurance. This transformation is not for individual gain, but to empower us for service in the Kingdom.

How Do We Accept the Restored?

We all need God’s restoration as we are all sinners. But it is easy to let someone’s past color our opinion of them. We do need discernment as we deal with others, and that is why we need to see through God’s eyes. We can ask God to show us what He sees. God sees what can be.

When God transforms someone, we must allow our perspective to change, too. The church must learn to welcome redeemed people without suspicion defining the relationship. Is there someone you struggle to see as God sees them? How can we extend grace before we see the full fruit of restoration?

God often restores people we never would expect for major tasks. N.T. Wright makes this comment about God choosing Saul to be His chosen instrument to take the Gospel to the Gentiles: “When you want to reach the pagan world, the person to do it will be a hard-line, fanatical, ultra-nationalist, super-orthodox Pharisaic Jew. And then they say that God doesn’t have a sense of humour.”[3]

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/transition-follows-transformation

[1-2 Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

[3] Wright, T. (2008). Acts for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-12 (p. 145). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

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