Daily Dose of Hope

December 3, 2025

Scripture - Acts 9:32-43

Prayer: Father God, hear our prayer this morning. We are awed by your power and strength. We are amazed by your love. Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you show in our lives to teach us and care for us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts right now and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us (help me) be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and help us walk through this Scripture in a way that honors you. Show up and help us discover whatever it is you want us to learn. This is your Word and we want to hear from you. In Your powerful name, Amen.

Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently walking through the book of Acts and today we finish up Acts 9.

We learn that after Saul's conversion, there is a period of peace for the disciples of Jesus. This allows them to move freely, share the Gospel, and do the works of healing and teaching. In today's passage, we see the Holy Spirit working through Peter to heal a bedridden man and then resurrect a dead woman.

I would like to focus on Tabitha, also called Dorcas, a disciple in Joppa (a town that is now part of modern-day Tel Aviv). Dorcas took care of most of the widows in that area. Really, she had created a community of widows who had become her family. Remember, widows are some of the most vulnerable people in that society. Without a husband or son to care for them, they have no way to care for themselves. If it weren't for God's people, they would be doomed to a life of poverty and/or prostitution. Dorcas cared for these women and they loved her dearly. This is a woman whose life had significant impact on a group of women that would otherwise have been overlooked in their culture. When Peter sees the situation, he is moved with compassion. He prays and Dorcas is restored to life.

We serve a God of resurrection. How do you need to see resurrection in your life today?

Let's reframe that a bit. In the hustle and bustle of Christmas, where can you see new life and resurrection? Where can you be a Tabitha?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki