Give a Hand

All so many people in this world need is a hand, and they, too, can live.

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Acts 9:41 – And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

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This event can be related very simply.  Dorcas (Tabitha) had died.  She was greatly loved.  The church called for Peter, perhaps for some comfort in their mourning.  Peter raised her from the dead.  When she opened her eyes, Peter “gave her his hand, and lifted her up.”  Now isn’t that simple?  But we must be aware that in the simplicity of how this story is related, we do not lose the importance of what took place.  Was it important that Dorcas had died?  Yes, for the death of a saint is precious in the eyes of the Lord.  Was it important that Peter be called?  Perhaps.  At least he understood something of comforting the bereaved, and he DID walk in the power of God.  Was it important that Peter put out the mourners?  Likely so.  After all, Jesus put out the doubt and unbelief before He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.  Was it important that Peter spoke to her?  Yes!  For it was in his words that faith was released, and Holy Spirit found full authority upon which to act.

Sadly, that is where many would stop.  Imagine if you had just had the wonderful opportunity to raise a person from the dead.  What a marvelous event!  What a powerful demonstration of the power of God!  What a powerful testimony you can now offer of the power of God!  But is that all that happened in our Text for Today?  Hardly.  After that, Peter gave Dorcas his hand, lifted her up, and then presented her to the saints.  It was not his raising of the dead that was the great gift of the day.  Rather it was his presentation of a valued human life who carried specific talents, treasures, and anointings that was the great gift.

To that end, I offer you this challenge.  There is much that every believer in God’s kingdom both can and should be doing in the earth today.  As long as a single lost person lives, the Gospel needs to be delivered to them.  As long as one sick person remains, the saints of God must proclaim healing and walk in the power of God to deliver it.  For every cripple, there is a healing.  For every prisoner, there is a deliverance.  For every blind eye, there is sight.  For every deaf ear, there is hearing.  For every poor man, there is an enriching.  For every mute, there are words to speak.  For every dead man raised, there is yet work to do.  And for all these, having received that critically needful thing, there needs to be a hand given.  That’s where our work really starts.  The healing, the deliverance, the dead living, the need met is an event, but there is a life to lead that follows, a life that needs a hand given; given to rise up, given to move forward, given to begin again, given to lead them to their own fulfilled life in Christ.

Manna for Today – Acts 9:36-43; Mark 16:15-20; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6