What Is In Your Hand?
Earlene Davis
I will glean a few thoughts from the account of the woman Tabitha. Acts 9:36, “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” Tabitha was her Hebrew name which means “a gazelle,” an emblem of beauty. In the Greek it was Dorcas, meaning (a Doe).
We don’t know if she was physically beautiful, but we do read how beautiful her life was. She was a Christian, for it says she was a certain disciple. The life of Christ shinned out of her, manifested for all to see. For she “was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.” So she served Christ by giving of her money and with good works which as we will read was her ability to sew.
Vs. 37-39, “And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”
She did what she could in serving Christ. Now the giving of alms and the making of garments for the widows in themselves gain no merit with God. But when God claims our hearts, then in love for Him we yield to Him what we have. We desire to be used in what ever capacity we may serve our beloved Lord. This is the “pure religion” and undefiled before God and the Father, that James writes of in James 1:27. That comes forth from the new creation life of Christ. “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
Dorcas’ good works flowed from a grateful heart to God for His saving grace. This is faith in action. James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead. For real faith, is not just words, but is manifested in works of faith. I will say this, that works without faith also gains no merit with God for they are just works of the flesh.
Dorcas, yielded her hands to make garments and dispensed alms, being inspired by Him whose hands were nailed to a cross for her. Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Did not God say to Moses, “What is that in thine hand?” Moses said, “a rod” – Ex. 4:2. And that rod became the symbol of divine power. It is as though the Lord asked Dorcas, What is that in thine hand? And she said a needle and He took what she had and she stitched, ministering the Gospel in a practical way. God’s provisions are to be made practical in our lives. We rejoice in reading the provisions of God (the provisional Gospel). But God would have us to lay hold of those provisions by faith letting Him make them practical in our lives.
Did not Jesus say, “I was naked and ye clothed me” of those who helped His poor people – Mt. 25:36. This I say again, this is faith in action. There are many, many like Dorcas recorded in Scripture of their faith in action. I will only name a few that come to mind. Like Anna the prophetess for her fasting and prayers day and night (Lk. 2:36-37). Mary with her box of fragrant ointment and anointed Jesus with it (Mk. 14:3). Joanna for ministering unto Jesus of her substance (Lk. 8:3), etc. What is in your hand?
Well, I must finish the story of Dorcas, it was a sad day for the church at Joppa when this devoted saint died. The widows weeping in grief and showing the garments Dorcas had made them. V. 40, “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.” What a moving scene that must have been. Dorcas was alive again. The mourners were comforted and she could return to her ministry of good works and almsdeed. Her resurrection from the dead caused a revival.
V. 42, “And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” So it was not just a miracle for the sake of a miracle. Dorcas raised from physical death became the cause of the resurrection of many persons who had been dead in trespass and sins. They had a spiritual resurrection coming into the realm of life. That meant the church at Joppa grew.
We read in Rev. 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (or the righteous acts of the saints).
Dorcas did not aspire to be a leader, she was content to do what she could to honer her Lord. Jesus said in Mt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
And in Ecc. 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” It may be a hidden work, like giving of our means to the Lord for the work of the Gospel; or holding people up in prayer before the throne of grace; or it may be cooking a meal for someone unable to do for themselves. Some may say that is not a spiritual work. But do we not read in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Jesus life was poured out to others and He is still doing good through saints yielding to His life within them. Eph. 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
I thank the Lord for two faithful workers who every month help me on preparing Glorious Gospel for mailing. Jack and Kathie French – collating the pages and after being stapled, the trimming, sealing and labeled for the bulk mail (for individuals), the rest for packages. It is a big help, what they do in a couple of hours would take me a week working alone. They say they enjoy working on the magazine and I know they do it as unto the Lord.
