Acts 9 | Renewed Identity

Monday: Read Acts 9:1-9
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Roughly six years had passed since the Holy Spirit empowered the early Church. Though we’re unsure if Saul witnessed Jesus’ ministry or crucifixion, we know he was present at the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7). Saul, a highly educated man (Acts 26:24), was not lacking in intellect or passion—but his zeal and anger consumed him. Acts 9 describes him as "breathing threats and murder," a vivid image of someone so overtaken by fury that it dictated every thought and action. Despite his deep knowledge of Scripture, Saul completely missed what God was doing through Jesus and His followers.

This story should cause us to pause. If someone like Saul—devout, intelligent, and sincere—could still be blind to God’s work, then we, too, must be willing to examine our own hearts. Are there places where pride, hurt, or anger might be keeping us from recognizing God’s movement in our lives? Knowledge alone isn’t enough—we need hearts that are humble and open to the Spirit’s leading. May we not miss what God is doing simply because it doesn’t look the way we expected.

Spiritual Practice: A Practice for Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

This discipline invites us to regularly examine our hearts for areas of spiritual blindness—places where pride, pain, or assumptions may be clouding our ability to perceive God’s work. It is a humble pursuit of spiritual sight, depending on the Holy Spirit to reveal truth, soften our hearts, and align our vision with God's purposes.

1. Pause and Invite: Pray a simple, sincere invitation: “Lord, open my eyes to see what You see. Show me where I am blind.”

2. Reflect and Name: Reflect on recent moments of frustration, judgment, or resistance. Ask: “Where might I be misinterpreting, resisting, or missing what God is doing?” Write down any areas where you sense spiritual fog or hardness of heart.

3. Confess and Surrender: Confess areas of pride, anger, or assumption that have kept you from seeing clearly. Ask God for forgiveness and healing. Surrender your need to control or fully understand and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth.

4. Watch and Walk in Awareness” Commit to walking through your day with open spiritual eyes. Ask the Spirit to help you see others with compassion, notice God’s movement in unexpected places, and respond with humility and grace.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:17-18, Psalm 139:23-24, James 1:22-24

Tueday: Read Acts 9:10-11
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When most people read Acts 9, the spotlight naturally falls on Saul’s dramatic conversion. But tucked within that story is another powerful transformation—that of Ananias. Jesus calls him to go and lay hands on Saul, the infamous persecutor of Christians. Ananias responds with hesitation, not resistance, reminding Jesus (as if He didn’t know) of Saul’s violent reputation. What we don’t see is what happened between verses 16 and 17—what inner wrestling, surrender, or fear Ananias might have carried. Between receiving a terrifying assignment and actually obeying it, something shifted in him.

Imagine the courage it took not just to walk into Saul’s presence, but to call him brother. We don’t know Ananias’ full story, but perhaps he, too, had tasted deep grace—enough to see Saul not as an enemy, but as a man in need of healing. Maybe his obedience came from a place of shared brokenness and understanding. Whatever the case, Ananias chose mercy over fear. That moment reminds us that obedience to Jesus often requires us to cross uncomfortable lines and extend radical grace—even to those we once feared.

Spiritual Practice: From Blindness to Brotherhood

This spiritual practice invites you to reflect on the areas of your life where fear, judgment, or assumptions may be clouding your spiritual sight. Inspired by Ananias’ journey in Acts 9, it creates space to examine your own vision—how you see others, how you perceive God’s call, and how grace might be asking you to look again. Just as scales fell from Saul’s eyes, this practice helps us ask God to remove whatever blinds us from seeing with love and obedience.

1. Pause and Ask: “Who do I struggle to see rightly?”: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any person or group you view with fear, judgment, or distance.
   

2. Read and Reflect: Acts 9:10–17: Slowly read the passage, imagining yourself in Ananias’ place. Reflect on what it may have felt like to be told to go to someone who once threatened your life.
   

3. Name Your Blind Spots: Name any “scales” you sense may be affecting your spiritual sight: fear, past wounds, stereotypes, pride, or unforgiveness. Confess them honestly before God. Ask Him to remove them, just as He restored sight to Saul.

4. Pray for “Brother Saul”: End your practice by actively praying a blessing over the person(s) you initially struggled to see rightly. Use Ananias’ words as your model: “Brother/Sister ______.” Ask God to soften your heart and give you sight to see them through the lens of grace.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Matthew 5:43–44, Romans 12:20–21, Ephesians 4:31–32, 1 Peter 3:9

Wednesday: Read Acts 9:20-25
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It’s powerful to read this part of the story and see how quickly everything changed. The Jews who once backed Saul, hoping he’d stop the spread of the Jesus movement, now wanted him dead. And the very Christians he had been hunting down—people he saw as enemies—were the ones who stepped in to save his life, even putting themselves in danger to do it. In just a short time, Saul’s entire perspective was flipped. Those he thought were in the wrong were now showing him mercy, and the people he once thought he was serving turned against him.

This moment is a reminder of how spiritual blindness can distort the way we see God, others, and even ourselves. It’s easy to be guided by pride, assumptions, or the culture around us and not realize how off course we are. Like Saul, we can be convinced we’re right while missing what God is actually doing. That’s why we need to stay humble and open—asking God to help us see clearly. When we let Him remove the things that blur our vision, we start to see people the way He sees them—and we may just find grace in the places we least expect.

Spiritual Practice: Seeing through Grace

1. Name the Blinders
   Find a quiet space and take a few minutes to reflect. Ask: What assumptions, fears, wounds, or pride might be clouding how I see others or God’s work? Write down anything that comes to mind—this could include specific people, situations, or attitudes.
   

2. Read and Reflect
   Slowly read Acts 9:1–19. Pay close attention to Saul’s moment of blindness and Ananias’ moment of obedience. Ask: Where do I see myself in this story? Am I resisting someone God is calling me to love? Am I holding tightly to my way of seeing things? Invite the Holy Spirit to show you truth where you’ve been misled by bias or fear.

3. Pray for Clear Vision
   End with a simple, honest prayer:
   “Lord, remove the scales from my eyes. Help me see You clearly, and help me see others through the lens of Your grace. Make me willing to change, willing to love, and willing to obey—even when it’s uncomfortable. Amen.”

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Proverbs 3:7, Matthew 7:3–5, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 5:5–6

Thursday: Read Acts 9:26-31
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After Saul’s conversion, it’s reasonable to believe he was passionate about making amends and helping others understand the saving grace of God. The chapter spans three years, yet Luke gives us only a brief glimpse into Saul’s ministry during that time. We’re told he argued persuasively that Jesus is the Messiah, but there’s no mention of conversions, miracles, or baptisms. In fact, it wasn’t until Saul fled due to a new threat on his life that peace came to the region and the Church began to multiply.

Saul was still human and likely wrestled at times with doubt or feelings of inadequacy. He might have questioned why Peter, a fisherman, could preach and witness thousands come to faith, or how Philip, once a servant at tables, could perform miracles and lead a flourishing ministry—while his own efforts seemed to yield little visible fruit. Yet perhaps Saul, who had once been blind to the truth of Christ, chose now to be blind to comparison. Rather than chase outward signs of success, he may have fixed his eyes on God's voice and call alone. He wasn’t seeking applause—he was pursuing obedience. No longer blind to grace, he may have chosen to ignore worldly measures of effectiveness. And like Saul, we are invited to walk in quiet faithfulness, trusting that real success is found not in results, but in our response to God's leading.

Spiritual Practice: Spiritual Clarity

This spiritual practice invites you to reflect on areas of spiritual blindness—places where pride, comparison, or fear may be clouding your vision—and to seek the clarity that comes from seeing through God’s eyes. It’s a movement from self-focused striving to Spirit-led obedience, modeled after Saul’s transformation into Paul.

• Pause and Pray for Illumination: Begin in silence. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas in your heart where you may be blind—whether to your own motives, God's guidance, or the needs of others. Pray: “Lord, help me to see as You see.”

• Reflect on a Time of Obscured Vision: Recall a season when you were striving but not seeing results, or comparing yourself to others in ministry or life.

• Read and Receive: Slowly read Acts 9:1–22 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 (“For we walk by faith, not by sight”). Note the contrast between Saul’s physical blindness and his spiritual awakening. Ask God to help you trade worldly measures of success for trust in His voice.

• Respond with a Step of Obedience: Commit to one small act of obedience today that doesn’t seek visibility or affirmation—something unseen but faithful. End with this prayer: “Jesus, give me the courage to walk by faith, even when I cannot see the outcome.”

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Isaiah 42:16, John 9:39–41, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 1:15–16

Friday: Read Acts 9:32-43
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In this passage, Luke records two powerful resurrections that reveal the reach of God's grace. We meet two very different individuals: a man who had been bedridden for eight years—possibly unsaved, unable to serve, worship, or participate in community life—and a woman known for her generosity and good works. Her death moved the community so deeply that widows mourned while holding garments she had lovingly made for them, perhaps even as they mourned their own losses. Despite their differences, both were touched by the same grace.

Peter could have judged who was "worthy" of a miracle. Yet, rather than operate from personal bias, he responded to what God was doing. He extended the same love and power to both the devoted believer and the one who may not have yet known the Lord. Peter's willingness to look past social, spiritual, or moral distinctions shows us something profound: the grace of God is not limited by our comfort or agreement. Like Peter, we are called to be blind to the divisions that keep us from loving our neighbors well. We can hold our convictions without letting them become barriers. Jesus Himself ministered to those trapped in sin, tradition, and pride—never deterred by disagreement, but always driven by love.

Spiritual Practice: Eyes Like Christ: A Practice of Seeing Beyond the Surface

This practice invites you to examine your own spiritual sight—specifically, how you see and respond to others. Inspired by Peter’s willingness to minister without bias, this reflection challenges you to become blind to judgments and divisions that hinder love, and to ask God for eyes that see people with grace, as He does.

• Pause and Acknowledge the Lens: Begin in quiet. Ask yourself: What lens do I usually see people through? (politics, performance, appearance, past experiences?) Be honest. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that may be distorting your view of others. Pray, “Lord, show me where my vision has been clouded by pride, fear, or assumption.”

• Look at Scripture with Clear Eyes: Read Acts 9:32–43 slowly. Observe how Peter interacted with both Aeneas and Tabitha. What stands out about his impartiality, presence, and compassion? Consider how God’s grace was extended equally.

• Name the One You Avoid: Think of someone in your life—or a type of person—you find difficult to approach or love. Ask: What assumptions or discomforts stand between me and grace? What would it mean to see this person with the eyes of Christ?

• Act in Alignment with Grace: Commit to one action that reflects how Jesus would respond—praying for that person daily, reaching out in kindness, or simply resisting the urge to judge. Let this step be small but sincere.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Psalm 139:23–24, 1 Samuel 16:7, John 7:24, 1 John 3:18