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Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:36-42)
Good day, dear Friend; may the life-giving blessings of the Lord be with you today and all days. I pray that as we close the work week, we do so inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit.
What will you be remembered for when you depart to be with the Lord? What lasting impact have you had on the lives of those around you? What kindness and good works have you done for others? I ask that because today's person was a disciple of Jesus Christ. At some point in her life someone shared with her the gospel, she believed and received it, and the led a life blessing widows. The first description of her says, "She was full of good works and acts of charity." She learned as part of her faith, that one must give and share and be all about helping others. Her area of focus were the widows in her city. The status of a widow during Jesus' day was not very high. The belief was that a woman had to be under the cover, or protection of a man. If you've ever wondered about our traditional wedding ceremonies, the father or male representative of the bride, hands her off, in some cases, to the minister, who then hands her to the man. The symbolism is that from the cover or protection of her daddy (a man), she is entrusted to God who now shares that responsibility with her husband. The meaning has changed for some, but that was the traditional view. In Jesus' day, work outside the home was nonexistent, so if the husband died, and the widow had no children, she was left to the care and kindness of others. It may have been that Tabitha had money, because at her death, the room was filled with widows, weeping and showing to Peter the tunics and other garments which she had made while she was with them. We can only imagine that helping dress the poor widows was a very necessary thing for someone to do, and it was Dorcas who accepted that challenge.
Even in her death, Dorcas brought many to Jesus. The scripture says that she died and believers called for Peter to come as soon as he could to be with them and to pray over Dorcas' body. Peter prayed and after praying, turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, rise." She did. And he presented her to the believers and widows, and word spread throughout Joppa about her resurrection and many believed in the Lord.
Jesus gave Tabitha a second chance in life when she accepted Him as Lord and Savior of her life, just as He has to many of us. There's no telling where we would be if we hadn't surrendered to Jesus. Tabitha knew that once she knew Jesus, she had to share Jesus and share what she had with others beginning with the less fortunate, such as widows. Upon her death, Jesus came and gave her yet another chance at life through her bodily resurrection. And from then on, she not only, we believe, continued to share tunics and garments with widows, she could now share her experience of life in Jesus with all who would listen.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for this dear reader; bless his/her gifts in ways that bless others. May her/his faith bless someone today. May the second chance you have shared with us allow us to share those chances with others as we give witness to our faith in You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share a kindness with someone today.
Eradio Valverde
