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DORCAS (TABITHA) (ACT 9:36-41)

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is Dorcas. We most of the time hear about the male disciples of the Lord and their adventure with him. Today the spotlight is thrown on a female disciple of the Lord, thanks to Apostle Luke who unlike the other writers significantly highlights the role of women and their relationship with Jesus during His earthly ministry. He also enables his readers to appreciate the fact that women also played significant roles in the early church. It is important to note that Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Dorcas or Tabitha had a ministry of kindness. She was a Christian philanthropist and cared for the less privileged. “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity” (Act 9:36)

While other male disciples may have touched many lives through the miracles they performed through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit also used Dorcas to touch many lives through her ministry of kindness. We are to understand that preaching and performing miracles are not the only acts the Holy Spirit is able to do through us. Touching the lives of people through social ministry and the act of charity or kindness can be one of the ways of winning souls through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. Dorcas, the disciple of the Lord is a classic example for us to follow. Act 9:39 testified that ”… Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.” Dorcas, the female disciple of Jesus made a remarkable impact in the lives of the less privileged. We are consequently encouraged to do the same by not only verbally preaching the Gospel but equally acting the Gospel by letting others experience the love of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit through the ministry of kindness.

Usually, when the pastor or minister on the day of burial says a person’s deeds shall follow him or her, some people become uncomfortable. I emphatically say at this point that Tabitha has shown that even as one lies lifeless, his or her deed shall follow him or her. The widows were displaying the good works done by Tabitha as a true disciple of the Lord. She impacted their lives positively and continue to do so even as she lay lifeless on the bed. Her memory and good works lingered on in their minds and hearts. Revelation 14:13 reminds us, “…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them!” I will not dwell so much on Peter praying for Tabitha to be revived, but it will suffice to say that it was a manifestation of God’s power to prove that God exists and has power over life and death. Dear friend, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)” The big question is, like Tabitha, do you have a ministry for the Lord? Are you in the business of making an impact and touching lives as long as you have life? Tabitha has taught us to be good stewards of the life God has given to us. Jesus has said that “The poor you will always have with you…” (Matthew 26:11) It is, for this reason, those of us who have been blessed must live a life of generosity in our lifetime on earth. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man failed to be generous to Lazarus during their lifetime on earth. When the rich man cried for help whiles in great torment in Hades, Abraham said to him, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” (Luke 16:25). Similarly Jesus tells us that on the judgement day, those on his left will be told, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:41-46). To please the Lord through our generosity and be found worthy of the Kingdom of God, Paul wrote to Timothy that “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) May the Lord empower us to live generous and impactful lives on earth even as we await His second coming. Shalom.

PRAYER
ALMIGHTY GOD, EMPOWER US TO DO YOUR WILL SO THAT OTHERS MAY TRULY EXPERIENCE YOUR LOVE THROUGH OUR LIFE-CHANGING MINISTRY OF KINDNESS. MAY OUR GOOD DEEDS FOLLOW US SO THAT WE MAY APPEAR BEFORE YOU AS GOOD STEWARDS WHO DESERVE THE JOY OF THEIR MASTER. AMEN