September 7, 2013

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 alms deeds which she did.

We had our Living Christmas Tree Choir Retreat today. It’s an annual get- together that kicks off the many rehearsals in preparation for one of our church’s biggest yearly outreaches. The presentations will touch 10-15,000 people. That’s not the thing I want to focus on today though.
Last night we had an amazing storm over Naples. There was thunder, lightning and inches of rain brought floods to many neighborhoods. When we got to church for the retreat, our Premise Keepers were starting to dry out areas where rain had penetrated and soaked the carpets.
There was a great breakfast ready for choir members, prepared by fellow choir members. Others had beautifully decorated the choir room.
So many things were done by so many people to prepare our hearts and minds so that we could worship The Lord and start building towards the great event.
All these little things that people did. All these things that have such a great impact on Kingdom building.
Tabitha – Dorcas, the gazelle – was a great kingdom builder too. She was full of good works and alms deeds. She served the Kingdom by doing and by giving. A little later in chapter 9 of Acts we hear that Tabitha dies and “all the widows stood by him (Paul) weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made.” Her kindness has encouraged the widows and helped bind them to the church. That’s how I felt today about all the many kind things that people had done — encouraged, and happy to be where I was, doing what I was doing.
To me the small actions that have big impact are a distinctive feature of Christianity. They are at the heart of the heart of the church.
There’s an interesting thing about the way what Tabitha does is described. Why doesn’t the sentence finish at “deeds”. Why are her “good works and alms deeds” described those as “which she did”? What point is Luke (who wrote the Book of Acts) making? The point is that lot’s of people say they will do things. Sometimes they promise to do great things — but they never come through! Tabitha did what she said she would do, and gave what she said she would give. In Ecclesiastes the Preacher says “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
Great promises don’t build the Kingdom. Little big deeds do.