When I was growing up, the door to one of the ladies' Sunday School classes at our church had a sign next to it that read "Dorcas." These women had apparently decided to name their group after "a sister" from the New Testament. I didn't know why because, for whatever reason, Dorcas never made it into the rotation of Bible stories that we kids learned in our own classes. We studied Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha. We learned about Lydia, Priscilla, Ruth and Naomi, Esther, Miriam, Rachel and Leah—but no Dorcas. I happened upon her when I started reading the Book of Acts, and that's the only place she appears, according to the index in my Bible.
Dorcas lived in Joppa, an important port city overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, describes her briefly as a disciple who "was always doing good and helping the poor" (Acts 9:36). When she becomes ill and dies, other disciples in her community learn that the apostle Peter is in a neighboring town and send for him. Peter arrives to find all the widows in the community crying for Dorcas and showing him all the clothing she made for them. Peter raises her from the dead, and word spreads all over Joppa, converting many people to Christianity.
Dorcas wasn't a powerful leader in the early church—she wasn't a charismatic teacher or preacher. She didn't have throngs of followers. Then again, maybe she did—her community mourned her death, so clearly, she had touched many lives. And she did it just by using the gifts she had been given to help other people however she could. She made clothes for the poor and showed kindness to everyone—simple things—but those simple offerings of love and kindness touched so many people that word of Dorcas' death and resurrection quickly spread and converted many people to her Christian faith.
None of us can meet the great needs of the world, but we can do what we can in our little corner of it. We can show kindness. We can share. We can listen to a friend's troubles—or maybe a stranger's. We can be willing to be used, willing to help. We can make a big difference by hanging an imaginary "Dorcas" sign over our door.
[Image by Chance Agrella @ Freerangestock.com]
Thank you for reminding me today to use what I've been given for HIS glory and to forget about my own.
Posted by: Jackie Byers | August 11, 2013 at 06:05 AM
Thanks so much, Jackie! I'm a little late responding because I spent yesterday "goin down to mama's":) Have a great week!
Posted by: Valerie | August 12, 2013 at 10:42 AM