By Apostle Alex Adusei Agyemang Ephesians 6:23KJV Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These two, love and faith should always go together. To compromise on either one can be very calamitous. Bad things happen to good and wonderful Christians because of a lack of understanding of this concept. There are individuals who think that their great love for God and the Brethren should be enough to protect them. Therefore, many wonder when bad things do happen to good Christians. She is full of good works and alms deeds. She is very dedicated to evangelism and church activities, a woman of great servitude. Why then did this untoward calamity befall her? Many times when such things happen to very committed Christians, they term it as being the will of God. For such a thing to have crushed this wonderful Christian, it sure must be the will of God. There was a woman like that called Dorcas. The Bible recounts that Dorcas was full of good works and alms deeds yet Dorcas fell sick and died. Dorcas, a very good Christian fell sick and died even though it wasn’t God’s will for her to get sick and die. Her great love didn’t prevent her from getting sick and dying “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber…Acts 9:36-37KJV” This is why he can be a very wonderful Pastor and still die from that disease. He can be a Christian so committed to the things of God and can be crushed by that problem Dorcas fell sick and died. It took her Brethren at Joppa calling for Peter to raise Dorcas from death. When Peter came, he didn’t say it is the will of God so let’s go bury Dorcas. Like the church brethren of Dorcas, Peter had the right understanding that a good christian shouldn’t get sick and die the way Dorcas did. Who did Peter learn it from? From Jesus Himself. “And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them…….. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up…Acts 9:38,40KJV” Love alone couldn’t save Dorcas, there needed to be faith. Paul didn’t say love from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. No! He said, love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is always love with faith or faith with love. The Bible says “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love….Galatians 5:6KJV” Faith works by love. Love energizes faith. The importance of love is that it enforces, empowers and energizes faith but love without faith will not protect you. In Dorcas case, her love empowered the faith of Peter to work on her behalf “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did… Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them…. Acts 9:36,39KJV” Dorcas’ selfless love of alms deeds and making clothing for widows energized the faith of Peter on her behalf. Love needs faith but faith also needs love. Love without faith cannot protect you but faith without love is destructive and oppressive. God bless you! Confession I believe with my heart that Jesus is the very Son of God that He came to die for me and was raised up by God the Father. I confess Him as the Lord of my life from this day forward. Hallelujah! I am born again Weekly Prayer Pray and intercede for unsaved souls in your family, immediate and far Scriptural reference: 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, Acts 16:31
