Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Impact

The Bible is full of examples of men and women who, with God’s help, accomplished miraculous things. We have only to search through the pages of God’s inspired Word to read the stories of those who, at various times, stood before kings with their lives hanging in the balance, led armies into battle, slew giants, were thrown into the lion’s den, were cast into the fire for refusing to bow down, who said “yes” to God’s calling, even though it would forever change their lives. Men and women stood through faith and belief in God’s promises, even when all about them were falling.

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them…” (Hebrews 11:32-38, New International Version)

These were truly extraordinary people in remarkable circumstances serving an awesome God for His incredible purpose. Wow! Oh, to have the faith of a Daniel or an Esther; a David or a Deborah.

When we read through the stories of these “heroes of faith,” it can be easy to wonder where our own stories fit. We might wonder how our daily lives can ever measure up and find a place among the “cloud of witnesses” that Hebrews 12:1 says surrounds us. Amidst those who appear as spiritual giants, is there room for the life of an ordinary person with an everyday faith that could still have an extraordinary impact?

It is in the book of Acts that we find the story of just such a person: the story of Tabitha. Her story is sandwiched between Paul’s conversion at the beginning of chapter 9 and Peter’s vision in chapter 10. She was a woman who, on the surface, lived a very ordinary life and yet had an extraordinary impact. Let’s take a closer look at what Scripture tells us.

“At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).

Luke, the author of the book of Acts, introduces us to Tabitha by first telling us that she was a disciple. Perhaps he did so because this one statement said more about her character than the rest that followed. Perhaps it gave the “why” for what followed.

A disciple has always been a student; a learner; a pupil. A disciple is a devoted follower, learner or adherent who actively studies and lives by the teachings of a master. By telling us that she was a disciple, Luke is telling us that Tabitha was a “follower” of Jesus Christ, a student of what many at the time referred to as “the Way.” This is a term that the apostle Paul used to refer to himself when he stood before Governor Felix.

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:14-16).

Tabitha would have believed everything that was “in accordance with the Law,” and that was, “written in the Prophets.” She would have had the “same hope” that Paul described. She would have striven to “keep her conscience clear before God and man.”

After Luke first shares with the reader that Tabitha’s core foundation and belief were in Christ, he then goes on to share that she lived out her belief through how she served others. He tells us that Tabitha “excelled in acts of kindness and charity” that she did on a regular basis. This information is important because it speaks to “how” Tabitha lived out her faith. Not only did she seek to gain knowledge, but she applied what she learned through how she served others. Tabitha, as a student of the Way, sought to emulate her teacher.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

Tabitha did this through a pattern of good works.

“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:22-24).

Let us continue with her story.

“But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them” (Acts 9:37-38).

Nick Lamoureux gave a message on Tabitha several years ago. In it, he drew attention to the distance between Joppa and Lydda, noting that they were anywhere from 10-12 miles apart. When the disciples in Joppa sent the two men to find Peter and “urge” him to return with them, they knew they were looking at a 20-24-mile trip there and back again on foot. They went willingly, not knowing for certain that Peter would be able to return with them, but determined to try. Once they found Peter and shared with him the circumstances at hand, and the urgency of the matter, Peter got ready and went with them. Peter saw that Tabitha was worth the walk.

“Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them” (Acts 9:39).

When Peter arrived in Joppa, he met with weeping widows. This, in itself, would have been a powerful image, but then the widows showed him the garments and tunics that Tabitha had made for them. They showed him the work of her hands. They showed him evidence of her faithfulness, of her good works. It must have been an incredibly powerful image to be met with.

It is easy to imagine that while Tabitha worked to make each garment by hand for a member of her community, she prayed for that individual, knowing their needs, hopes and struggles. The New Testament Church was in its infancy. The members would likely have been in close fellowship with one another on a regular basis. As they walked out this new “Way” together, they would have shared their joys and their sorrows with one another and sought to be an encouragement to one another.

With what we have been told about Tabitha thus far: that she was a disciple, that she did a pattern of good works regularly, that after she died men were sent to get Peter and bring him back, it is not much of a stretch to believe that Tabitha’s community was not only grieving the woman who made the garments, but also the woman who prayed with them and for them, the woman who encouraged them with words of comfort and exhortation, perhaps even loving correction when needed, the woman who lived out her faith and helped them live out theirs.

“But Peter put them all out, 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. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive” (Acts 9:40-41).

What must have gone through Tabitha’s mind when her eyes opened and she saw Peter’s face? Did she recognize him immediately, or did she wonder who this man praying over her was? Would she have understood what had just happened, or did Peter have to explain it to her? Did she know that she had had such an impact on those around her, or did she question herself on a daily basis and wonder if she was doing enough; if what she was doing mattered? Did she weep when she realized the depth of love that had been poured out for her and the lengths that her spiritual family had gone to bring back the woman they all cherished? It is likely that there were plenty of joyous tears shed when the door was opened and her family was allowed back in the room to see her, to rejoice that Tabitha, who had been dead, was alive again.

“And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner” (Acts 9:42-43).

We are not told much more about Tabitha except that her story became known all over Joppa and “many believed.” In the next chapter, Peter being in Joppa has the famous vision in which God makes clear to him that he should look at no man as common or unclean and subsequently the gospel is offered to the gentiles; a whole new day of preaching the gospel was beginning, and God placed Tabitha’s story right in the middle of it. As a result of her faithfulness to God and His people, Tabitha’s story intersects with the larger gospel story being shared with the gentiles. God wrote an ordinary woman’s story into the greater biblical story. Incredible!

So often in our day to day lives, we might look for those moments when we are able to stand center stage and do something “important,” something “big.” The ordinary moments of our day-to-day lives may not seem worth telling. We might wonder where the “glory” is in going to church each Sabbath, of fellowshipping with the same people each week, who sometimes get on our nerves, of breaking bread together, of visiting those who are homebound, of praying for those on the prayer list, even the ones who have offended us, of doing all the ordinary things day in and day out. Instead of ordinary, we long for extraordinary things.

We long for God to give us giants to slay, waters to cross, and battles to win. We want to be worthy to be put in the fray, face Pharaoh and boldly speak out, “Let My People Go.” But instead, we are given a life where Christ asks us, as He once asked Peter so long ago, if we love Him, and when we say that we do, He leaves us with the admonition to, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17).

In the life of Tabitha, God draws attention to an ordinary woman’s life, full of ordinary days, in which she took care of her spiritual community well. Her life, like ours, was full of moments, of people and relationships, of places and opportunities, of serving and loving well. God wrote Tabitha’s story to tell of His glory, rather than her own.

Tabitha lived an ordinary life, but left an extraordinary impact.