One of my mom’s favorite stories came from a blink and you miss it moment in Acts. Indeed, I probably never would have stopped and noticed it if it wasn’t for my mom pointing it out to me with so much meaning and emphasis.
In Acts 9, we find Peter traveling around, spreading his good news and performing miracles when he comes to Joppa. He’s already been doing amazing things in Christ’s name when a local woman falls ill.
“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”
So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.” (Acts 9:36-41)
If you knew my mom, you would know why this story spoke to her heart. In a world of people striving to be known for great and wonderful things, Tabitha is a woman doing an unflashy job with huge love. There were people traveling incredible miles into dangerous places with the knowledge that they might never come back, but Tabitha? Tabitha was making sure they had clothes that would keep them warm for the journey. Her efforts were such that losing her created heartbreak. The widows Peter finds mourning her aren’t just mourning for their friend. They show him the clothes she made for others and that loss is felt as keenly as the loss of their friend. Tabitha understood what is so easy for us to miss.
The best contribution you can make to the kingdom is the one that you are uniquely qualified to do. Size is not a factor.
As 1 Corinthians puts it: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
For the Christian, the varying nature of our gifts should never matter because we all share the same source for them. We don’t need more of what everyone else is doing. We need more of what God uniquely made you to do. God made you to do what you do best. The size or value the world places on your skill has no bearing on what God can do with it.Tabitha served and served big in quiet ways. Her efforts were such that her death was a loss to her very unique ministry
Do you cook better than anyone else in town? Do that. Can you tinker with the most junky car and get it running again? Do that. Are you you good at sewing? Do that. Do the thing you uniquely excel at and don’t worry if it’s odd or seemingly inconsequential.
When my mom passed away, amidst all the painful heartbreak, messages began pouring in from people whose lives had been touched by her sewing. Her funeral looked more like a costume party as people all showed up wearing clothes and costumes she’d sewn. Similar to Tabitha, people came mourning the loss of my mom’s simple efforts to further the kingdom. My mom’s sewing was her ministry and the loss of that left a hole. It was a small act, but done with a kingdom mindset it reached far beyond her own life.
No effort is inconsequential if done in the pursuit of God and his goodness.
So whatever your “thing” is, do it for the kingdom full throttle. Don’t worry about if it’s what everyone else is doing or what has big implications that are immediately obvious. The only thing needed for your efforts to have lasting impact beyond your life is to do it earnestly for God’s glory, and he’s just waiting for you to get started.
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 