The Lord Prompts His Children to Love Passionately and Seek Him Desperately

Photo by Mathieu Jarry

Scripture: Acts 9:36-38

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.  And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

Insights: There are two aspects in today’s verses with which I wish to communicate.  The first deals with Tabitha’s service.  She loved passionately the people in her lives.  Notice that her deeds were abounding in kindness and charity.  Also notice the amount of time she was devoting to this passion.  She was continually serving.  FBC Bowling Green has been hosting Financial Peace University courses for almost a year now.  In that course we are taught to have gazelle intensity about getting out of debt because one’s life depends on it because the cheetah is pursuing you with the intent to kill you.  Tabitha’s name means gazelle and she lived with an intensity to help and serve others with passion.  The second aspect of today’s verse deals with our desperate need to encounter the Lord.  Tabitha has died and yet the people have heard about God’s power in the life of Peter.  They have also heard Peter in not too far away.  They send a messenger to him because they are desperate for the Lord to work in the midst of their lives.  Beloved, when we have that kind of intensity and desperation on the Lord, we can accomplish much for the Lord’s kingdom and His renown.  Let us work with abandon for the glory of God and let Him be lifted high because of our faithfulness.

Questions:

1. How have you felt the Lord’s promptings to love passionately with others?

2. What situations have you experienced in which you have felt the Lord push you towards Himself because of your desperate situation?

Prayer: Father, I pray that when I finally leave this world that I will have a testimony as powerful as Tabitha.  Until that day, may I be so desperate for You that I seek You moment by moment. Amen.

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