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Tabitha: The Woman Full of Good Works
by ETURUVIE EREBOR Tabitha, also known as Dorcas was a member of the early church. As a matter of fact, the Bible refers to her as a disciple. In describing her, the Bible says, "this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did." Dorcas lived in a city called Lydda and she was well known and well-loved for helping the saints, especially the widows. At some point she became sick, we are not told what the illness was but Dorcas did not recover from it, she died. Her body was washed as was the custom and laid in the upper room and the saints who had heard that Peter was in Joppa, a city nearby, sent for him. When Peter arrived, he was taken to the upper room where the body of Dorcas lay but all the widows followed him weeping and showing him the coats and garments Dorcas made while she lived. Obviously, Peter could not focus on the task at hand with all the weeping going on so he sent them out, prayed and Dorcas came back to life. Now, the moral of the story is this; firstly, the good works of Dorcas were on display for Peter to see after she had died. This means that long after we are gone, our works, good or bad will be on display for all to see. There is a song that says, "Thus would we pass from this earth and its toiling only remembered for what we have done." After we are gone, all that will remain for people to remember us by is what we did while we lived. Secondly, the good works of Dorcas were not only seen after she died, but they spoke for her after she had died and had no voice to speak for herself. Dorcas' good deeds had a voice that called Peter to come from Joppa to Lydda and pray for her resurrection. Whatever good deeds we do, it has a voice and on the day we are not available to speak for ourselves, the voice of our good deeds will speak for us. Dorcas was a woman with a vision to meet the needs of the saints and widows in Lydda and that vision would not let her die. As you embrace your vision today, it will keep you alive. Eturuvie Erebor (AKA Gabriella) is a writer, speaker, trainer and coach with a strong passion to transform the lives of women and youth not only in her native country, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where she was born, but all across the world. She has spoken to women and youth groups in churches, Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |