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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works …” (Eph. 2:10)

Spiritual gifts are given by God to every Christian when we first accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. They are to help each of us accomplish a joyful and rewarding service to our Lord. It is our hearts and attitudes that matter most to God. In Acts 9:36-43 the story of Dorcas illustrated how such an attitude of devotion is further empowered by God to spread the good news about Jesus for the benefit of many. A general guide of the service that God approves is: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (Jam. 1:27).

Dorcas (Tabitha) was a Jewess who lived in Joppa who practised her gifts with a heart of love. She followed the example of Jesus in caring for the widows and orphans (Matt. 20:28). We know very little of her actual deeds of love other than being a disciple “who was always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). In those days, widows were often marginalised and subjected to abject poverty by society. Her good works included the many “robes and other clothings” which she made and distributed to those in need. When she died, the loss was felt immediately and news of it spread to nearby Lydda where Apostle Peter, in the name of Jesus, had just healed an incurable invalid called Aeneas (Acts 9:32-34). Peter was called and he was touched with compassion in his heart for the woman who has served Jesus so faithfully. He knelt down to pray for Dorcas who was rescued from death and presented alive again to her friends. Such a miracle naturally attracted much attention and excitement and many people in Joppa became believers because they were familiar with Dorcas’ good deeds and benevolence. They could see Jesus in her character and behaviour. Her death at the time when Peter was evangelising in the city of Lydda was divinely engineered.

Here is an example of God using both Dorcas’ good deeds of love and Peter’s gift of healing to spread the good news about Jesus beyond anyone’s imagination. Let us practise our good deeds zealously and with the right attitude like Dorcas. We will be pleasantly surprised at what else God can do through us and for His glory.