Tabitha - Clothed with Christ

 By: Carrie Hammye

For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, since you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27, 28

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha…she was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died.”  Acts 9:36, 37 excerpts

Another beautiful example of a godly woman is Tabitha. She was a disciple who walked with the Lord and used her gifts to make a difference. What were her gifts? She knew how to sew. Tabitha made robes and clothes for the widows of her community. Does this seem like a homely gift compared to powerful evangelistic outreach or raising the dead? Well, people needed what she had to give, and that’s what really mattered.

Widows are a big part of the church community. Today, they have the same legal rights as anyone else. However, in biblical times, widows had no means of support unless family took them in. The system worked well unless the family didn’t like or want the widow or could not afford to care for her. As a result, many widows starved or had to beg on the streets.

Tabitha had a gift and it was what these women needed - good, sturdy clothes. And while she was at it, she provided mentoring to them through her example as a disciple. She had been “clothed with Christ” and she shared that priceless gift along with the physical apparel. 

What a powerful testimony to us - figure out your talents, then use them for God. Oh, and be sure to put the practical part in harness with the even more practical need - the need to be saved and mentored in the faith.

That’s not all - one day this woman herself began to be in need. She became ill and then she died. When the other disciples realized Peter was nearby, they decided to urgently request his presence (Acts 9:38). Perhaps they knew that Aeneas had just been healed of a crippling illness that had left him bedridden for eight years (Acts 9:32-35).

Peter arrived and was met by all the women - weeping and mourning their friend. “All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Tabitha made when she was with them.” (Acts. 9:39) He sent them out of the room, knelt down, and prayed. It says he “gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.” (Acts 9:41).

Can you imagine this incredible moment? These women, women forgotten and scorned by many, saw their mentor and friend come back from the dead. The scripture says, “And it became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9:42)

Oh, my friends, doesn’t that make you want to DO something! So get out there! Make a robe, dig a ditch, groom a dog, fix a braid, edit a manuscript, make a tent, buy land and renovate it - do what God called you to do. Do it for His glory and give it to those who are in need. You can’t lose when this is how you live.

1. What gifts do you have that you could begin to use for the Lord?

2. Take a moment and dedicate your gifts to God. Do it  out loud! 

3. Make a plan to use one talent you have for the Lord this week.

The Power of a Prepared Heart

 

PEOPLE GOD USED: PRISCILLA

The Power of a Prepared Heart

You don't have to stand on a platform to make a lasting difference in God's kingdom.

When we think about people God uses, we often think of the people we see: the pastor behind the pulpit, the missionary serving overseas, or the gifted teacher who can hold a room's attention.

But what about the people working quietly behind the scenes? What about those who open their homes, invest in others, teach one-on-one, and help someone else become stronger in their faith?

Meet Priscilla.

We don't know everything about her life, but the glimpses Scripture gives us reveal a woman whose faithfulness made a lasting difference in the early church.

Her story reminds us that God's kingdom doesn't depend solely on people who stand in front of a crowd. It also depends on people who prepare their hearts and invest in others.

Faithfulness begins in ordinary places

In Acts 18, we meet Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, after they leave Italy and settle in Corinth. They share a trade with the apostle Paul, and the three work together.

Before Priscilla appears in an account of teaching another believer, we see her working and living ordinary life.

She had responsibilities. She had experienced disruption. She had a life beyond the moments recorded in Scripture.

Yet God worked through her in the middle of it all.

We sometimes imagine that we'll become more useful to God when our circumstances change. When life slows down. When we have more time. When we feel more qualified.

But Priscilla's story challenges that thinking.

God can use us right where we are.

Your workplace, your home, your relationships, and your everyday responsibilities can become places where faith takes root and grows. You don't have to wait for an extraordinary opportunity to begin serving God faithfully.

Sometimes the opportunity is already sitting across the table from you.

Helping others grow is a ministry

One of the most significant moments in Priscilla's story comes in Acts 18:24–26.

A man named Apollos arrives in Ephesus. He is eloquent, knowledgeable in the Scriptures, and enthusiastic about teaching. However, his understanding of the way of God is incomplete.

When Priscilla and Aquila hear him speaking, they take him aside and explain the way of God more accurately.

Consider what they do—and what they don't do.

They don't publicly humiliate him. They don't dismiss his gifts because he still has something to learn. They don't treat his incomplete understanding as a reason to abandon him.

Instead, they invest in him.

Priscilla's story gives us a beautiful picture of spiritual maturity. Mature believers care about truth, but they also care about helping people grow in truth.

That doesn't mean we ignore error or pretend every teaching is correct. It means we learn to correct with wisdom, humility, and love.

Sometimes the most important ministry we do will never be seen by a crowd. It will happen in a conversation, a living room, or a quiet moment when we help someone understand Scripture more clearly.

We may never know how far the impact of that investment will travel.

You don't have to compete to be called

Priscilla served alongside Aquila, and together they became trusted coworkers in the gospel. Paul refers to them as his fellow workers in Romans 16:3 and acknowledges the risks they took for him.

Priscilla also appears in the account of Apollos's instruction, helping a gifted teacher become better equipped for ministry.

Her example reminds us that we don't have to compete for recognition to fulfill God's purposes.

The church needs people who preach and people who teach personally. It needs leaders and encouragers, public servants and quiet mentors. Different gifts can serve the same mission.

Priscilla didn't have to be Apollos to help Apollos. She didn't have to become someone else to make a difference.

Neither do we.

It's easy to look at another person's gifts, opportunities, or influence and conclude that our own contribution is too small to matter. But God has not asked us to become someone else. He has called us to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us.

The goal isn't to be the most visible person in the room. The goal is to help God's kingdom grow.

Make room for others to grow

Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:19 tell us that a church met in the home of Priscilla and Aquila.

Their hospitality was part of their service. Their home became a gathering place for believers, and their lives were invested in the work of the gospel.

We can sometimes underestimate the spiritual value of making room for others.

A meal shared, a conversation offered, a skill taught, a prayer prayed, or a person welcomed into our lives may seem insignificant. But these are often the ways faith is nurtured and the church is strengthened.

What do you have that could help someone else grow?

Perhaps you know Scripture well enough to help someone understand a passage. Perhaps you've walked through a difficult season and can encourage someone who is struggling. Perhaps you have a welcoming home, a listening ear, or a gift for teaching.

You don't have to possess everything. You simply have to be willing to offer what you have.

Your faithfulness matters

Priscilla's story doesn't give us a long list of accomplishments. Instead, it shows us a life of partnership, instruction, hospitality, courage, and faithful service.

Her example challenges us to reconsider how we measure our usefulness to God.

Maybe you've been waiting for a bigger opportunity. Maybe you've wondered whether your gifts matter because they aren't especially visible. Maybe you've been so focused on what you still need to learn that you've forgotten how much you could already offer someone else.

What if your next meaningful ministry opportunity isn't about doing something bigger, but about helping someone else grow?

You can encourage a believer who is struggling. You can help someone understand Scripture. You can make room for a new person in your church. You can share what God has taught you.

You may never see the full impact of your investment. But you can be faithful with the opportunity in front of you.

You don't have to stand on a platform to make a lasting difference in God's kingdom. You need a prepared heart and a willingness to help others grow.

A challenge for this week

Think of one person you can intentionally invest in this week.

Offer encouragement. Share a lesson God has taught you. Help them understand a passage of Scripture. Make time to listen.

Don't focus on whether anyone notices what you do. Focus on whether your faithfulness helps someone else take a step toward Christ.

Reflection questions

1. Where might God be asking you to serve Him in your ordinary responsibilities?

2. Who has invested in your spiritual growth, and how can you pass that investment along?

3. Is comparison keeping you from recognizing the value of your own gifts?

4. Who could benefit from the knowledge, experience, or encouragement you already have?

The Power of Gratitude

By: Jenifer Metzger

I will thank the Lord for His righteousness; I

will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17 CSB

We made it to November! I love the "ber" months so much, and I think November is my favorite of them all. The weather is not just cooling off at night, but it's starting to feel crisp all day long and I love that. The leaves that changed to stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red are now falling off the trees and rustling down the streets, a sound I love. And, I may be alone here, the time has changed. Yes, I enjoy the time change. My husband's work schedule has always had us early to bed and early to rise, but I love how the world turns dark earlier and I can hunker down in the warmth of my home just relaxing with the ones I love before turning in for the night.

Along with November comes a time when so many people begin to shift their thinking to gratitude. While people are doing their annual counting blessings habit throughout November, the truth is, gratitude is something we should practice every day. 365 days a year. Why? Because there is power in gratitude.

Give thanks in everything; for this

is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB

When we give thanks, we shift our focus from what we don't have to what we have already been blessed with. It can be easy to let our minds wander to what we don't have -especially with social media constantly throwing things in our face. We drive past a big beautiful house and suddenly we become discontent with our own home. Instead we should be praising God we have a roof over our head. We walk into the kitchen and see a sink full of dirty dishes. We automatically feel frustrated at the work needing to be done. Instead we should praise God for providing food to eat, dishes to eat on, and a family to eat the food. After paying the bills for the week, we look at our checking account and see a very small balance staring back at us and feel deflated. Instead we should be praising God the bills were paid for the week.

Having a heart of gratitude, giving thanks to God, it isn’t pretending that everything in life is great. But it is remembering that through it all, God is good and worthy of our praise. So when you focus on gratitude this month, let it become an every day habit. Twelve months of the year.

Discussion:
1. Do you struggle with contentment? Do you struggle with gratitude?
2. What is something you are thankful for today?

Mary's Magnificat: An Advent Series Part 1

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Sam 

"And Mary said,  'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

~Luke 1:46-47

As I was recently bringing our series on the fruits of the Spirit to a close, I began to prayerfully consider what we should study together next. I've been enjoying going week by week through an extended passage of Scripture (and I hope you have, too!), and I knew I wanted to continue doing so. With this in mind, along with also knowing that the season of Advent would be upon us very soon (where is 2026 flying off to??), I begin to consider what we could study together as this year comes to a close. 

My mind quickly turned to a favorite passage of mine from the Christmas story, and I am excited to announce that, over the next 6 weeks, we will be journeying together through Mary's song of praise (historically known as "Mary's Magnificat") found in Luke 1:46-55.  Because we will be taking our annual Christmas break beginning shortly before the end of Advent, I thought it best for us to begin our study now, before Advent even officially kicks off on November 29, so that we can get through the entire passage before Christmas arrives. I pray this series will be a blessing to you!

When we read the beginning of Mary's song of praise, we have just been told that she has gone to visit her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth. At pregnant Mary's arrival, baby John in Elizabeth's womb leaps in the presence of Christ. Elizabeth proclaims to Mary, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

It is at that moment that Mary then responds with these words:  "And Mary said,  'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

The words that begin Mary's famous "Magnificat" (so named because of Mary's words about magnifying the Lord) are not words uttered randomly, while on her own, out in a field somewhere. They are actually words proclaimed in Elizabeth's presence and directed to her in response to what she has just said to Mary. I love that picture! When was the last time we were with a dear friend or family member and praise just erupted forth from us and resulted in a deeply impactful percolation of worship and thanksgiving? It's something to think about!

Something else that I want to point out about our passage today is that the emphasis is on magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in Him as Savior. This is deeply impactful when you remember the fact that Mary was a poor, very young, unmarried teenage girl growing up in Israel, a girl who has just been told that she has been made pregnant by the power of the Spirit of God.  

In her time and culture, she knew that she was at risk of being stoned as a result of what would be supposed indiscretions on her part.  She would be ostracized, marginalized, rejected, judged, made fun of, falsely accused, and perhaps even killed.

And yet. 

It is in the midst of all that that Mary then says she magnifies and rejoices in the Lord. 

Do not let that slip past you. Allow that realization to sink in. 

Mary had what we so often lack: a big-picture, eternal perspective.  Too often, the last thing we want is to suffer, to be misjudged, to be rejected, or to go through a hard time. And this is precisely because we fail to see the impact that such seasons can have on us. We forget the truth of Romans 8:28 that the Lord works everything together for our good. We fail to remember that the present sufferings are not to even be compared to the glories awaiting us for eternity. Put simply, we lack vision.

Mary knew that, though uncomfortable and grievous, the rejection and other challenges she would face as a result of her unplanned (by human standards! ;)  ) pregnancy were not worth complaining about or despairing over, because it was those very challenges that would result in the literal salvation of the world. It's mind-boggling to think about! And though our sufferings in this life will not result in the birth of the Savior, they could very well result in someone being saved. Our witness, our example, our joy in suffering, our boldness in sharing truth and living it out no matter what kind of response it will garner by the world, all of these things can lead to people being saved as a result. 

And that makes everything we endure on this side of heaven worth it, amen?

Reflection Questions:

1) What stands out to you about the opening words of Mary's Magnificat? 

2) Is there a way in which you are suffering right now or have in the past? How has (or how could) the Lord turn that suffering around for good and use it in your life and in someone else's?

3) How can you apply what we have learned today to your Advent season this year?

How Do You See Yourself?

 By: Joanne Viola

 

How do you see yourself? It’s an important question, and one I raised to myself while recently reading 
1 Peter 2:9-10.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 
a people for God’s own possession, 
so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him 
who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 
for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; 
you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  
(NASB)

Chosen.
Royal.
Holy.
His possession.

That is how Peter describes us because, in Christ, that is who we are. If I am honest, I think I forget this quite often. I see others through that lens, but myself, not so much.

God’s people had His commandments but they could not keep them. And neither can we.

It is all by the grace and mercy of our Lord that we are chosen, royal, holy, and God’s possession. We have been called out of the darkness to live in the light, through the Light of world, and His Word.

“We have nothing to bring to the table …”

 (from Grace in the Wilderness by The Daily Grace Co., page 56)

So very true and yet, He calls us to His table!

What a privilege and an honor we have been given.

The study suggested reading Isaiah 43:20-21. May I suggest you read these verses in several different versions as it is eye opening.

“... I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sunbaked earth, 
Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, 
a people custom-made to praise me.” 
(MSG) 

We are a custom- made people who are to praise God. Each one of us! Let that sink it today. May nothing keep you from coming to His table.

 

Reflection: 

How do you see yourself? Do you remember to see yourself through the lens of Scripture? What is hindering you from coming to God’s table?

 

Image by chach brand from Pixabay