Unstoppable! 'The Vital Thread of Grace' — Acts 9:36

Friday, May 23, 2025

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.

— Acts 9:36 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus was a living and breathing example of God's love for the forgotten and broken of the world. His compassion for those with broken and marred bodies, which he healed and restored, was legendary. His love for the least, the last, and the lost emphasized God's love for all people, not just the people of power and privilege. As the Good News story of Jesus permeated the world through his disciples, the Lord's compassion for the lost, broken, and forgotten continued as well. We know about that loving compassion through the ministries of the apostles. Tabitha (Dorcas) is a reminder that loving compassion also continued to live through the many lesser-known, or even unknown, disciples of Jesus. Tabitha's beautiful acts of kindness, and her love of those she served, remind us that Jesus' Spirit was alive in his disciples long after he returned to the Father. Let's keep Jesus' Spirit of loving compassion alive in our day, too!

Today's Prayer

O God, we know you are the God of compassion and faithful love. We know Jesus was a living demonstration of your love for all people. We beg, we plead, that the animosity of people toward Christians today can be overcome through our acts of genuine and loving compassion demonstrated toward the least, the last, and the lost of our time. May we be known as people who not only love each other, but also love those whom our world overlooks, shuns, and forgets. I ask this in Jesus' name and to continue his legacy. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Heartbreaking Reality
Devo: Unstoppable!
"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...."
Greater Things
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, Even after I ascended back to the Father, the work of My apostles reminded people that My power and presence were still at work. I was..."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 9:36 NLT — 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.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, May 23, 2025

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Christ's Gifts' (Ep. 4:8-13)
"Dear Father, giver of lasting gifts, Thank you for the gracious gifts bestowed by your Messiah on us when he descended into the depths for us and..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Endless Supply of Love' (Ro. 5:5)
"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Pray to Recognize Your Faults' (Lk. 6:41-42)
"Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your....."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Grace, Glorious Grace'
"Dear Child of Grace, Paul powerfully tells the truth about where each of you was before grace:You were the offspring of the prince of the power of..."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Unstoppable!