Devoted Dorcas Part 3

The following devotional is intentionally written to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. Before you dive into Quill’s devotional, take a moment to think about a few things. Notice which of Quill’s repeated words or ideas actually appear in Acts 9:36–43. As you read, see what actions the devotional suggests lead to healing, revival, or miracles. Also consider whether the passage presents those actions as causes or simply as events surrounding God’s work. Pay attention to the outcomes Quill expects for believers today. Keeping these questions in mind will help you practice careful, thoughtful reading and grow in discernment.

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Devoted Dorcas Part 3
By Quill Meanwell

We have spent a couple days now learning about Dorcas, the disciples, and the widows. They experienced a miracle and we can too! Read the passage again and look for the hints of healing and restoration. 


Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Acts 9:36-43

Dorcas was alive! They all saw her -- Peter, the saints, the widows. The word spread quickly, and soon all of Joppa knew what Peter had done! Dorcas had a second chance at life. The weeping widows had their mourning changed to dancing. But the miracle didn’t stop there. Joppa experiences a revival! Many believed and Peter stayed to keep the flames of revival burning. 

Dorcas was dead. She was physically healed. Because of Dorcas’ resurrection, the town experienced a spiritual revival. How did this happen? Let’s look at the story closely. The friends washed Dorcas’s dead body. This was not a pleasant task, and yet they served the one who had served them. The disciples realized that they couldn’t fix the problem on their own. They asked for help from Peter. The widows were weeping.They showed Peter evidence of Dorcas’ faithful ministry. Peter knelt, and prayed. 

We all need healing -- maybe physical, maybe spiritual, maybe both. Our hearts, our town, our country, our world needs a revival. We can serve like Dorcas’s friends did. We can stoop into unpleasant places of service and provide cleansing for those who need it. We need to remember that we can’t expect to get healing on our own. We work together with others who are humble and have faith. We kneel in prayer and can confidently look for revival to come. Service, cooperation, and prayer will produce miracles in our life. We can expect things “beyond all that we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:19) if we minister together and pray humbly.​

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We can see that Quill gives us the larger passage and encourages us to read it in full again. Reading a Bible passage repeatedly is an effective part of observing what the Bible says. Since we've read the passage a few times now, we'll probably easily notice how Quill goes beyond what the Scripture actually says. Quill keeps pulling on our heartstrings by using words like healing and revival. We don’t see those words in the text.

With careful consideration we can see that Quill seems to imply that the widows, disciples, and Peter were the ones who made the miracle happen and caused a revival. Sure, the Bible talks about sacrificial service, unity, and humble prayer in other places. But Acts 9 doesn't actually say these things are required for healing or revival. The author even pulls in Ephesians 3:19 to suggest we should expect amazing, supernatural results from serving and praying. Making these actions the prerequisite for healing or revival can easily slip into promoting a "prosperity gospel." When we expect our actions result in an instant, visible blessing from God, it's like treating Him like a genie. God can heal and revive, absolutely, but He doesn't need our service or prayers to perform miracles.
  
These words tug at our hearts because as believers we all long for the time when death, sickness, and sin are wiped away. We may see glimpses of healing and revival before the new heavens and the new earth are a reality. However, neither Acts 9 nor Ephesians 3:19 were written so that we could expect these as guaranteed experiences here and now. As we read all of the New Testament, we see that Peter, Paul, and other apostles and disciples endured physical trials and persecution without immediate relief. Stephen, James, Peter, and Paul died like Dorcas did. Their hope was not in doing the right things or praying in the right way to get blessings. Their hope was in the promise of their future resurrection. 

As we engage with Christian resources, when a devotional stirs strong emotions, it is helpful to take a moment to check whether the application comes from what Scripture says. We can discover practical applications to Scripture from faithful observation, rather than from emotional pull. 

Dorcas’s resurrection reminds us that God has the final word over death, loss, and disappointment, and our ultimate hope is in Christ. Just as the widows, disciples, and Peter played different roles in God’s work, we can live out our faith together—encouraging one another, serving faithfully, and trusting God to accomplish what only He can do. Even if we don’t see immediate results, we can take comfort in His power and the promise of resurrection, knowing that our faithful participation in community points others toward Him.

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