At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Acts 9:36-37 (Read v.36-42)

A godly woman named Tabitha live in Joppa, a coastal city eleven miles northwest of Lydda, where the Lord healed Aeneas. She became ill, and apparently suddenly died. The believers in Joppa called for Peter, who when to Joppa. Upon arriving—and seeing the sadness Tabitha’s death cause those who knew her—Peter called on her to rise from the dead, which she miraculously did.

Again, though no particular mention is made, what was true when Aneanas was healed was also true when Tabitha was raised from the dead: Peter did not make it happen. God did. God was pleased to work through Peter—but make no mistake, Peter could not have made this happen. It was God!’

As it was in Lydda, people came to saving faith when Tabitha was raised from the dead. But as is always the case, people weren’t saved because they witnessed a miracle. How do we know this? Simple, because many witness miracles and do not trust Christ for salvation.

We thank God for healing, and we thank God for saving His people. But we must not make the mistake of believing that salvations always follow miracles. It simply is not true! We thank God when it does happen, but it certainly does not always happen.

Bonus Thought: When anyone on the body is ill—especially with a serious matter, though we cannot heal or expect that God will always heal, we can and should pray for each other.