Today you should read: Acts 9:36-43
I love this brief snapshot of a woman unmentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Her name was Dorcas. Her reputation, second-to-none. Her name in both Aramaic and Greek means ‘gazelle’, which is very fitting for her character: she was swift to serve. The description we have of Dorcas is found in verse 36 and 39:
• “She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.”
• “The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.”
What is your reputation? Are you known for being a servant? Are you swift to serve? Do you have a heart for meeting needs? If not, be inspired today from the short description of Dorcas and rise up as a servant of God! Don’t settle for being a lazy, self-focused spiritual taker. Be a faith-filled, giving “Dorcas”.
Now that I have inspired you to name your next kid Dorcas, let’s shift gears to the miracle of the story. The Lord used Peter to do what only God can do: raise Dorcas from the dead. This was yet another sign of God’s strength and another affirmation of the Christian faith. This resurrection story has two-fold significance for us today. First, we can trust that Jesus is real. His disciples were given power to carry on His mission. Whole towns were changed. Lives were altered. Second, we can trust that we will be raised with Him one day. He is in the resurrection business… He’s the president and CEO. BELIEVE!
Much love to your Thursday, CPC.
P.S. I actually know an awesome missionary named Dorcas. You would think this passage was describing her 🙂
By: Todd Thomas — Worship & College Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
You wanted us to start at 9:32, right?
When the friend and I were first getting to know each other, and started to talk about family, I asked about his wife, her name, etc, etc. He looks at me real long, “Korbet, you aren’t going to make fun of her name now…” Good grief no, and when he said, “Her name is Dorcas…” I immediately knew we were going to be great friends. And time has tested that fact, but they are wonderful friends.