Tabitha: Community Builder
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
36 In Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha. Her Greek name was Dorcas, which means “deer.” She was always doing good things for people and had given much to the poor. 37 But she got sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Joppa wasn't far from Lydda, and the followers heard that Peter was there. They sent two men to say to him, “Please come with us as quickly as you can!” 39 At once, Peter went with them. The men took Peter upstairs into the room. Many widows were there crying. They showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was still alive. 40 After Peter had sent everyone out of the room, he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body of Dorcas and said, “Tabitha, get up!” The woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Peter called in the widows and the other followers and showed them that Dorcas had been raised from death. 42 Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord.
Acts 9:36-42
Memory Verse
1 Thessalonians 5:15
15 Don't be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else.
The Bible is filled with ordinary people who listened to God’s calling. One struck down a giant, others interpreted dreams, one rescued spies, another saved animals from a flood, and still another sewed clothes.
Tabitha was an important figure in her community. She and her friends sewed clothes and gave them away. Maybe you know someone like her: a friendly, giving person who is just loved by everyone. As today’s verse says, she modeled doing “what is good for each other and for everyone else.” She didn’t defeat any giants, but she worked every day following God’s command to love other people. Her life was linked in beautiful ways to those around her. When Peter showed God’s power by bringing her back to life, the whole neighborhood rejoiced and many became believers in Jesus.
Tabitha served God by just being herself. She did not try to be something she was not: she shared her gifts with others in her community. Not many of us know people who are called to lead armies or gather animals onto an ark, but we do know people around us who teach and show God’s love to everyone around them. We can listen to their stories and try to be like them by using our gifts to bless others.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, please help me to see the simple things that I can do to be a part of your story. Help me to be like Tabitha and show kindness in my own way. Amen.Related Resources
Heather Altena
Heather Altena grew up in West Michigan, moved to the West Coast, and now lives just two blocks west of Chicago. She attends Pullman Christian Reformed Church and works various teaching-, literary-, writing-, theater-, and computer-related related jobs for the Southwest Chicago Christian School Association. She and her husband, Christian, have four children in their teens and twenties and are learning the truth of the magnet on their fridge: "The first 40 years of parenting are the hardest."