A life marked by ministry (v. 32-33)
"But after decades of reading the Bible and biographies of people who accomplish great things for God, it seems God uses busy people." [p. 116]
32Peter went off on a mission to visit all the churches. In the course of his travels he arrived in Lydda and met with the believers there. 33He came across a man--his name was Aeneas--who had been in bed eight years paralyzed.
A life marked by humility (v. 34-35)
"Beginning at Pentecost until his death in Rome, Peter was simply an instrument of Jesus Christ. And that is another characteristic of the people God uses -- people who humbly serve the Lord to bring glory to Him."
34Peter said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" And he did it--jumped right out of bed. 35Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.
A life marked by availability (v. 36-39)
"Because Peter had taken the opportunity to minister to Aeneas in Lydda, he was called to minister to a woman named Dorcas in Joppa. ... You do what God sets before you and soon find yourself called here and there to do additional work. ... Be available, like Peter, to travel ten miles from Lydda to Joppa when the Lord calls."
36Down the road a way in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, "Gazelle" in our language. She was well-known for doing good and helping out. 37During the time Peter was in the area she became sick and died. Her friends prepared her body for burial and put her in a cool room. 38Some of the disciples had heard that Peter was visiting in nearby Lydda and sent two men to ask if he would be so kind as to come over. 39Peter got right up and went with them. They took him into the room where Tabitha's body was laid out. Her old friends, most of them widows, were in the room mourning. They showed Peter pieces of clothing the Gazelle had made while she was with them.
A life marked by dependency (v. 40-41)
"If we don't live in dependency on the Lord, nothing is going to happen in the long run in our lives. If you want God's blessing, you have to be dependent on Him."
40Peter put the widows all out of the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he spoke directly to the body: "Tabitha, get up."
She opened her eyes. When she saw
Peter, she sat up. 41He took her hand and helped her up. Then he called in the believers and widows, and presented her to them alive.
A life marked by productivity (v. 42)
"Everywhere Peter went he left a trail of good fruit born for the Lord. .. the gifts we do have should be used in just as productive a manner as Peter used his."
42When this became known all over Joppa, many put their trust in the Master.
A life marked by flexibility (v. 43)
"Yet Peter was willing to break that social barrier and stay in the home of Simon the tanner while he was in Joppa. Peter knew that the person God blesses is not a person of prejudice."
43Peter stayed on a long time in Joppa as a guest of Simon the Tanner.
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