May 30 - Finding the Right Words

Read: Acts 9:32-43

What do you do when someone you encounter is experiencing tragedy?  I often find myself tongue tied, filled with feelings of inadequacy and helplessness.  Thoughts of, “What could I possibly say or do that could make a difference?”

In today’s story, the Apostle Peter encounters two such tragic situations. Peter had spent 3 years walking with Jesus, seeing Him comfort people, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. Now in these days after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter draws on his experiences with Jesus, and trusts the leading of the Holy Spirit in his heart to bring comfort, healing and the hope of life.

First, Peter encounters a man, Aeneas, who has been bedridden for 8 long years.  No one had been able to help him, and he suffered day after day, with no hope of things changing.

Peter says, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.”  

These words are an echo of very words he had heard Jesus speak to the paralytic that had been lowered down to Him through the roof, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (Mark 2:11)

Next, Peter is told of a beloved woman named Tabitha who had become sick and died.  She was a blessing to everyone she knew, and her untimely death brought sorrow and grief to those her life had touched. They are all trying to make sense of if all, so they ask Peter to come.  I am sure they were hoping that he would provide words of comfort and hope.

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter again remembers what he had seen his Savior say and do.

Peter puts them all out of the room, and says to the dead woman, “Tabitha, get up.”

These are an echo of Jesus words when He is taken to home of a synagogue ruler whose daughter had died.  “(Jesus) took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’)” (Mark 5:41)

You're holding their hands
You're straining for words
You're trying to make sense of it all
They're desperate for hope
Darkness clouding their view
They're looking to you

Just love them like Jesus
Carry them to Him
His yoke is easy
His burden is light
You don't need the answers
To all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them
Stay by their side
And love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus         

Casting Crowns, “Love Them Like Jesus”