In this week's Bible Club, we looked at two women from the book of Acts who remind us of the significant role God has ordained women and mothers to play in their communities and households.
Tabitha, a disciple, became sick and died. It so happened that the apostle Peter was traveling near her town when she died, and her church urged Peter to come. Tabitha was known for doing good deeds and helping the poor. When Peter arrived at the house where her lifeless body lay, all the widows showed Peter the clothes Tabitha had made. Perhaps Tabitha herself had been a widow. Peter, in the fashion of Elijah, Elisha, and the Lord Jesus Himself, prayed for this woman - and the Lord raised her from the dead. Because of this, many people heard about the power of God and many people believed in Him. (Acts 9:36-42) In life and in death, Tabitha pointed others to God.
Lydia was another woman God used to bring many to Him. She was a businesswoman, a dealer of purple cloth, whom the apostle Paul and his companions encountered at the river in Philippi one Sabbath morning. She already worshiped God, and when Paul preached about Jesus, the Lord opened her heart to receive Jesus. Lydia, recognized as the first European disciple, brought her household to Christ as well. After she and her household were baptized, she opened her home to Paul and his companions; it became a gathering place for believers in Philippi. (Acts 16:11-15; 40)
What do we learn from these two women? First, that they believed in and feared God. Second, God used them because of their faith. In their unique ways, Tabitha and Lydia made their lives, resources, and time available to the Lord to serve others. As a result, God used them to extend the Kingdom.
When we talked about Tabitha and Lydia in Bible Club, we related these characteristics of faith, service, and kindness to the women the children know the best, their mothers. "When we went to Mexico, my mom packed scarves and clothes for the people who don't have enough," one student recalled. The children have also spoken of praying with their mothers before bed, of reading Scripture with their mothers. The lesson exhorted the children to be like Tabitha and Lydia, who had great faith and served God. One day, the children in our program will themselves lead their own households, serve in their communities, and perhaps become parents themselves. May they be faithful in using their lives to serve God, and may He use them to bring many others to faith.
Tabitha, a disciple, became sick and died. It so happened that the apostle Peter was traveling near her town when she died, and her church urged Peter to come. Tabitha was known for doing good deeds and helping the poor. When Peter arrived at the house where her lifeless body lay, all the widows showed Peter the clothes Tabitha had made. Perhaps Tabitha herself had been a widow. Peter, in the fashion of Elijah, Elisha, and the Lord Jesus Himself, prayed for this woman - and the Lord raised her from the dead. Because of this, many people heard about the power of God and many people believed in Him. (Acts 9:36-42) In life and in death, Tabitha pointed others to God.
Lydia was another woman God used to bring many to Him. She was a businesswoman, a dealer of purple cloth, whom the apostle Paul and his companions encountered at the river in Philippi one Sabbath morning. She already worshiped God, and when Paul preached about Jesus, the Lord opened her heart to receive Jesus. Lydia, recognized as the first European disciple, brought her household to Christ as well. After she and her household were baptized, she opened her home to Paul and his companions; it became a gathering place for believers in Philippi. (Acts 16:11-15; 40)
What do we learn from these two women? First, that they believed in and feared God. Second, God used them because of their faith. In their unique ways, Tabitha and Lydia made their lives, resources, and time available to the Lord to serve others. As a result, God used them to extend the Kingdom.
When we talked about Tabitha and Lydia in Bible Club, we related these characteristics of faith, service, and kindness to the women the children know the best, their mothers. "When we went to Mexico, my mom packed scarves and clothes for the people who don't have enough," one student recalled. The children have also spoken of praying with their mothers before bed, of reading Scripture with their mothers. The lesson exhorted the children to be like Tabitha and Lydia, who had great faith and served God. One day, the children in our program will themselves lead their own households, serve in their communities, and perhaps become parents themselves. May they be faithful in using their lives to serve God, and may He use them to bring many others to faith.