At the end of every year, we hear news stories of famous people who died during that particular year. Among many others in 2018, we had George & Barbara Bush (US president & first lady), Burt Reynolds (actor), Aretha Franklin (singer), Stan Lee (Marvel comics), Neil Simon (playwright), John McCain (senator), and Charles Krauthammer (journalist).

If you could bring someone back from the dead, who would it be? Would you choose a beloved family member, a great historical figure, or celebrity? Would you choose an inventor, doctor, scientist, artist, or political figure?

We have an account of a woman who was brought back from the dead in Acts 9:36-42. Peter was summoned to the bedside of Dorcas who had died. Once there, he was met by a group of crying widows who showed him the clothing that Dorcas had made for them when she was alive. Peter sent the widows out, said a prayer, and told Dorcas to arise. She came back to life and because of this miracle, many believed in Jesus.

As we evaluate ourselves, consider:

• Are we loved by fellow Christians because of our involvement with our church family (Hebrews 10:24, John 15:12-13)?
• Are we looking to the needs of those less fortunate in our midst and tending to those needs (James 1:27, Galatians 6:2)?
• Could it be said of us that if we died, there would be an empty spot in some facet of church work (Matthew 25:35-40)?
• Are we fully using our talents in ways that give God glory, rather than in serving self (Philippians 2:1-11, 1 Peter 4:10-11)?
• Could final words about us include, “she was full of good deeds and charitable works (Matthew 5:16, Hebrews 13:16)?”

Ladies…there is work to do! The Lord and His church need us to be full of good works that serve our physical and church families (Ephesians 2:10)! Dorcas was so loved and missed by her church family that Peter saw fit to bring her back to life. Would we be worth bringing back from the dead?