LYDIA

A Business Woman Turns To Christ

Acts 16: 6-15

Over and over in Scripture we read about “open heart surgery.”  This surgery is God’s Spirit working in the hearts and lives of people, bringing them to a point where they see, for themselves, their need of a Savior. 

In the case of Lydia or any other person who turns “to Christ,” they are brought to the place of faith because of the supernatural work of God in their heart.

There are “other hearts” involved, though, in how God brings one person into the life of another to make a difference, and influence them towards putting their faith in Christ.  We call it ministry when God opens and closes doors of opportunity for His people to share Christ with others.  We often refer to our opportunities as “an open door.”  

In these verses in Acts, we see both doors illustrated.   Some are open and others are closed.  This is also called “guidance.”

Let’s put some shoe leather on these doors.  Don’t you and I usually feel that when a door of opportunity opens, we’re usually keen on walking through it, and watch what God does in response to this new opportunity.   We sense through this “open door of opportunity” that God has lead us in a particular matter.

But what about when He “closes a door?”   That’s guidance too!  It’s similar to any of our requests in prayer.  If He says “yes” to our request, we feel He’s answered our prayer.  Yet, the truth is, Scripture also teaches that His “no’s” or “waits” are answers too.

Here in the text we’re looking at, Paul and his companions were travelling in one direction, throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching” in the province of Asia.  As they continued in their travel plans, again they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit “wouldn’t let them.”  So, they went somewhere else, Troas. 

As humans, they could have felt discouraged with the “preventative plans” the Lord was orchestrating on their trips.  But Paul realized, like we’re all to realize that God holds the plan, executes the plan and His timing and guidance are the best.

There are some wonderful principles to learn from the alteration of Paul’s travel plans:

*        God’s plans are carried out toward the heart of a “prepared person or persons.” 

*        God’s guidance comes to us individually and personally.

*        God’s guidance prompts people inwardly, through others, or through circumstances, to prevent them from going in one direction and to head

         out on another

Isn’t it wonderful when we see God’s plan unfold!  But many times we have to look back, to understand our present situation and how we got there.  

As we seek God’s will in matters, it is important to know what God wants us to do and where He wants us to go; but it is equally important to know what God does “not want us to do” and “where He does not want us to go.”

No doubt Paul was wondering what geographical direction to take in spreading this Good News.

I remember one time being at home and having the “sudden urge” to go for a walk.  Now I don’t get those urges often, but I remember dropping whatever I was involved in at home, and began my walk.   I checked our mail at the box on the corner, which was a half block away.   As I was checking the box, I sensed someone standing nearby.  This nicely dressed older man was just standing there, looking around, as if to understand where he was.   

Now I am not in the habit of introducing myself to men standing on street corners, but all of a sudden I was in conversation with this nice gentleman.   It wasn’t long before I realized he was struggling with finding his way around.   As time and experience with him marched on, I came to understand he was dealing with dementia.  

I told him I was taking a short walk down to the little park two blocks away and asked if he’d like to walk with me.  I indicated that I would bring him back home within twenty minutes.   He agreed and off we went.

This sweet elderly man was a “divine appointment” orchestrated by God through the prompting within me to just “take a walk.”   

This reminds me that God’s guidance isn’t something mystical, but very practical.  He knows our mind and heart and sees our steps as well.  So our Creator knows just how to orchestrate us to the “right places and people” where God can use each of us to reflect God’s love or share His truths.

We sat on a park bench to rest a few minutes (which I seldom do), and within minutes I learned of his move to this city to be with his son.  His wife was living with his daughter on the east coast and not expected to live very much longer. 

He was parked in this city, across from the condo where we were living and just happened to be out on a walk and stopped at the moment I showed up at the mailbox.   NO COINCIDENCE….but a DIVINE APPOINTMENT.  

The delight of this encounter was when I was able to share about Jesus Christ as we sat together on the park bench.   And yes, he gave his life to Christ that afternoon.  We became friends and walked the streets of San Diego, California together.

Back to Paul and his travelling companions.  One Sabbath they went outside the city gate to the river.  Seems as if they were searching for a quiet place to pray.   Instead of a quiet place they found a group of women.

Goodness, can’t we relate to this situation.  We go somewhere to do one thing, and find that we’re engaged doing something quite different.

Paul and his men never allowed gender or cultural boundaries to keep them from preaching about Jesus.  Paul opened his dialogue with the women and in verse l4 the “open heart surgery” prevailed.  “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”

This encounter is so encouraging because many times we can share with another and there appears to be no response.  We’re not the ones who open peoples’ hearts, that’s God’s job.  Our assignment is to pray and be open to the opportunities God presents in our normal everyday living. 

Our task and privilege is to share the good news of the gospel.   Oh that our sensitivity to God’s Spirit would increase so that we’ll know when to speak, what to say and better yet, when to be silent.  It takes “time” for people to process truth. 

This unexpected encounter at the river opened up an entire region of the world to the gospel.  We never know that our tiny daily encounters can open up new relationships, and new opportunities God will use to bring people into a relationship with Himself. 

Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth and so she probably would have been a wealthy and well known woman in the city of Thyatira.  Women in Jesus’ times were not given the same kind of respect and status in society as in our day.   There were often referred to as second class citizens.  They were allowed to have very minimum education and their role was limited to performing the chores in their homes and take care of children.   

Lydia was a smart business woman.  This reveals that she not only had an education and skill, but she also possessed strength and determination to work in a male- dominated society. 

She was influenced in a wonderful way by Paul and learned from him.   She had a teachable spirit.  And the beauty of this setting by the water shore, was that God had opened her heart to the gospel. 

She would become very influential to leading others to Christ, and play a prominent role in the early Christian church and ministry.

Her giftedness in business and financial decisions, along with her contacts in the community would be used greatly in the church.   Her personal touches of hospitality was so refreshing.   She made her home available to others.  This is hospitality at its finest.

Hospitality goes a long way in influencing others to the love of God.  It’s not the size of our homes, but the size of our hearts that make the difference.  

We often hear the term entertaining guests as being hospitable….but it isn’t.   Entertainment focuses on the host or hostess.  Hospitality focuses on your “guests….making them feel at home in your home.”   Most of the word contained in hospitality is “hospital.”   It’s caring for the needs at hand….not impressing others.  

Where in the world did we learn that our homes need to be in perfect order, free of dust and clutter……we need to “unlearn” that concept. 

People who notice my dust or spotted windows need to be in a hospitality refresher course, taught by Miss Lydia.   When I’m in someone’s home and I happen to notice a laundry basket out or dishes in the sink, I realize that “life is happening” in this home.  This is reality living and I embrace it and hope I’m invited back.  

The contribution of her heart and home cradled many a guest’s heart…meeting peoples’ needs in practical ways.   Our homes can be a “haven of rest” for many a heart, bringing refreshment physically, spiritually and emotionally.  

People need to be needed in this lonely world.   We weren’t designed to go this life alone.   Let’s be alert and invite people into our little worlds and listen to them, love them and enjoy them….as unto the Lord.

Through prayer and obedience God sends a prepared person to a prepared people.  This is evangelism. 

May our lives long to live “intentionally,” looking for people to love in practical ways.