“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.  Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, ‘Please come at once!’

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.“
Acts 9:36-39

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JANUARY 15, 2025

In his book “The Conspiracy of Kindness,” Steve Sjogren says that while less than 10% of Christians have the spiritual gift of evangelism, 90% have the gift of serving. His church in Cincinnati was involved in “servant evangelism,” where they wash cars, clean toilets, shine shoes and grill hot dogs in parks—all for free with no strings attached. During these explosions of kindness, they see many people so moved that they eventually come to church and get saved.1

I think Tabitha had the same idea.

Luke’s picture of Tabitha—a disciple always doing good, with many attesting to her kindnesses—is unique. Nestled in the narratives of Peter using his gifts of evangelism and healing is a model of faith in action. Faith displayed through works. Tabitha was using her gifts, always (the text tells us) doing good.

How many people were moved to faith because of her radical serving? How many were present there at her deathbed to hear Peter and witness a miracle only because Tabitha had served them so well?

Surely many of God’s people have served faithfully through the centuries, without a biblical shoutout. We hear a few of the stories of hard-hearted people who were won over by kindness, forgiveness, love. But I imagine there are many more known only to God. Still, how many more might there be if we were “always doing good?”

What if we were radically serving those who don’t yet know Jesus? Is there anyone in your life who might show up to your funeral and hear a gospel message solely because of your steady kindness? It will look different in your life than in Tabitha’s, in mine, in anyone else’s. Maybe it’s shoveling a neighbor’s driveway or running errands. Even in a season that seems to require all your time and energy—like parenting littles—maybe it’s an intentional smile and eye contact a with the grocery bagger as you thank him. What might it be in your season?

 1 As described in Precept Austin’s Acts 9 commentary

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • What gets in the way of sharing the gospel with your words or deeds?
  • What gets in the way of more “continually” serving others? Listen for God’s prompting to serve others today.

 

Church Reading Plan: Genesis 16; Matthew 15