A few months before He died, Jesus gathered 70 of His followers. They had watched Jesus heal the sick, feed the hungry and teach people about a God of love. It was time for them to tell others the good news.
After Jesus went back to heaven, His friends couldn’t keep quiet! They kept talking about God’s love and the things Jesus did. It wasn’t always easy. People who hated Jesus were mean and tried to hurt them, but Jesus’ friends kept loving and sharing.
Some preached to strangers. Some talked to friends. Some wrote letters. Some helped others with food or clothes. Each work mattered to God.
Different Helpers, Different Work
Dorcas lived in Joppa, a port city filled with many people. Some knew about God’s love and loved Him back, but some didn’t. Dorcas was kind to all of them. She sewed clothes for people who needed them. She cheered up those who were sad.
Some people called Dorcas by her Jewish name, Tabitha. No matter what name they called her, they all knew she loved God — and them.
One day, Dorcas got sick and died. What would the people do without her loving service? They sent for Peter, who was preaching in a town nearby. Peter hurried to Joppa. He went to the room where Dorcas was laid. Many crying people told Peter how she had loved them and taken care of them.
Peter asked all the people to leave the room. He knelt and asked God to bring her back to life and health. Then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” Just like that, she opened her eyes and sat up.
Peter and Dorcas both loved people with God’s love, but they did it in different ways. It’s the same for today.
How can God use you? You can recite a Bible verse for church. You can tell your friends that Jesus loves them. You can invite a kid at your school or church to play with you. You can help other people like the woman with two names.
Read Luke 10:1 and Acts 9:36–42 for worship.
