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

Saturday, May 23, 2026

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 Saturday, May 23, 2026

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Can't You See the Urgency?'
"Dear Friend, You need to treat the issues of the kingdom with a sense of urgency. There is never a time to be complacent. As you read the verses..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 73:25-26
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Walking in Love' (Ro. 14:13-16)
"Dear Father, to whom all will bow, Help me not pass judgment on others or despise them. Let me look to myself in view of the fact that I will have to..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 24:3-4
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

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!