March 10. Acts 9. Chance Bozeman
You Can't Kill A Good Thing
The story of Tabitha easily gets drowned out amidst the incredulous conversion of the once-murderer and persecutor of the church, Saul; however, I believe the humble account of Tabitha reveals how God intends to bless those who need it most through our lives lived out in faith.
Tabitha was a faithful disciple in the region of Joppa who worked tirelessly to support the poor and do good in her community. What we learn about Tabitha comes from her legacy of service to her community, and the community’s reaction surrounding her death. It can be insinuated that Tabitha was a wealthy woman because she had access to resources needed to support and care for the marginalized women in her native village. The scene painted for us in the text is nothing short of heartbreaking. When the apostle Peter arrived, the mourning widows shared with him the fruit of Tabitha’s life.
We are taught that Christians enter into God’s glory upon death, becoming united with him in perfect love. Which begs the question: why did Peter bring Tabitha back from the dead? Didn’t her life of service warrant her well-earned rest?
“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none, their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.” (Isaiah 41:17-18)
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.” (Psalm 84:4-6)
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’.“ (John 7:37-38)
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:21-24)
It is impossible to see the scope of our influence as disciples. As with Christ, often it takes a death to give light to a person’s character, deeds and life into context. And while we enter on to our great reward upon dying, being released from the shackles of decay – It is for the benefit of those who do not know God that we continue to walk among them, even though we rather receive our reward with God in heaven. God has work for us each to do. He has given each of us a ministry. We are a spring of living water in a parched world. We have the heart of our God and the mind of Christ. Tabitha’s resurrection was a gift to the community of widows that relied on her for support. To them, Tabitha was “Christ Among Us”.