Good news stories

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 9:32-43(use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

The Good News of Jesus was fast spreading through the region and it seemed like an exciting time to be a disciple of Christ. And yet, even for faithful believers, sickness and death reared their ugly heads and brought with them real human emotions of grief and sadness. Tabitha is described as someone who was full of good works and charity and was clearly loved by many. These early Christians were not immune to the suffering and pain that this world brings but what they did have was the understanding and belief that there was power and transformation in Jesus’ name.

And so, those around Tabitha, sent for Peter urging him to come “at once”- even though her illness had led to death there clearly was a faith in the impossible that perhaps, just perhaps, if Peter came something miraculous could occur. And it did! Faith in the impossible, despite what the world would say, despite what their human eyes might see, was a clear distinguishing feature of the early church.

It is also a call for us as the church today that in the face of suffering and sadness we too would be people of hope and faith - believing in healing and trusting in the power of Jesus to show up, whatever that may look like. And Tabitha's miraculous healing wasn’t just good news for her and those who loved her; the story of what had happened spread throughout the whole region and “many believed in the Lord”.

I wonder what good news stories we have of God moving in our lives? Who have we shared them with? Our call as believers is not just to tell others about Jesus, but about those specific things that He has done and the miracles He’s woven throughout our lives, so that others might see how good and kind and wonderful He really is. Let’s be people who tell of the good things that Jesus has done for us so that many in our communities too can believe.

Let us pray: Lord God, help us to be sharing the good things that you have done for us so that many more people in our local communities would come to know and trust in you. Amen.