June 27, 2018 LYDIA
Acts 16:14-15 “And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
There is much we can glean from these two verses about Lydia in the book of Acts. The first thing we learn about Lydia is that she was not an idle person, but an industrious woman who sold fabric. In our culture, many suffer as a result of not being industrious, not being about a task that is worthwhile. I’m reminded of the verse that tells us “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18. The next quality, and the most important quality about Lydia is that she was a worshiper of God. No matter what our state in life may be, no matter our circumstances, we can choose to worship God, and when we do, He takes note of it. Worshiping God is taking the focus off of our life and focusing on the awesome, all powerful and all loving God that we serve. Thirdly, and very important, Lydia was listening to Paul as he taught and preached the gospel. It is obvious that Lydia had a desire and a heart to know God above all else; her heart was open to the things of the Lord. It is also noteworthy that Lydia not only listened to the message of the gospel, she responded to the gospel. We are told that the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Her response was to offer her house as a place for Paul and his companions to stay and be refreshed. Lydia also demonstrated that she was humbled in spirit when she said, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord.” The beauty of the scriptures as seen throughout is that the message of the gospel cuts right to the core issues of the heart, and the message is clear and easily understood by those who desire to know God. Let us learn from Lydia. Let us not be idle in life, but be about a worthy cause; let us be a worshiper of God; let us take time to listen to what God says through His word and through His Spirit; let us be a responder to the message of the gospel; and let us be humble in spirit. With these qualities, God is pleased, and we are blessed. We have but one life to live-we have an opportunity to live as unto the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Acts 16:14-15 “And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
There is much we can glean from these two verses about Lydia in the book of Acts. The first thing we learn about Lydia is that she was not an idle person, but an industrious woman who sold fabric. In our culture, many suffer as a result of not being industrious, not being about a task that is worthwhile. I’m reminded of the verse that tells us “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18. The next quality, and the most important quality about Lydia is that she was a worshiper of God. No matter what our state in life may be, no matter our circumstances, we can choose to worship God, and when we do, He takes note of it. Worshiping God is taking the focus off of our life and focusing on the awesome, all powerful and all loving God that we serve. Thirdly, and very important, Lydia was listening to Paul as he taught and preached the gospel. It is obvious that Lydia had a desire and a heart to know God above all else; her heart was open to the things of the Lord. It is also noteworthy that Lydia not only listened to the message of the gospel, she responded to the gospel. We are told that the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Her response was to offer her house as a place for Paul and his companions to stay and be refreshed. Lydia also demonstrated that she was humbled in spirit when she said, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord.” The beauty of the scriptures as seen throughout is that the message of the gospel cuts right to the core issues of the heart, and the message is clear and easily understood by those who desire to know God. Let us learn from Lydia. Let us not be idle in life, but be about a worthy cause; let us be a worshiper of God; let us take time to listen to what God says through His word and through His Spirit; let us be a responder to the message of the gospel; and let us be humble in spirit. With these qualities, God is pleased, and we are blessed. We have but one life to live-we have an opportunity to live as unto the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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