May 31, 2023 | Be On Mission
A Vision from Macedonia & Lydia’s Faith
Scripture: Acts 16:6-15(NIV)
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Devotional
Once again we return to the chronological narrative in the book of Acts, some twenty years before Paul wrote the letter of 2 Timothy. Here in Acts 16, he had just met Timothy in his hometown of Lystra. Paul decided to take him along on a journey that would not only change Timothy’s life, but also change the course of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
After stops along the way, they arrived in the Macedonian city of Philippi, another important city in the Roman Empire. Paul believed that God had called them to preach the gospel in Macedonia because of a vision from the Lord. In ministry, knowing where you are going is important, but knowing why you are going is crucial.
While in Philippi they met a wealthy businesswoman named Lydia. Purple dye was rare and expensive to produce. It was cherished by both the religious and secular communities as a symbol of royalty. Though she was a Gentile, she was a worshiper of God. Somewhere along the way, she had decided to worship the one true God as the Jews did, rather than the pantheon of gods of the Roman Empire.
Lydia was among a group of women gathered for prayer. As Paul and his entourage preached the gospel of Christ, she opened her heart then opened her home to them. This was not unusual for Lydia, as she began using her home for a house church to meet (see Acts 16:40).
When Lydia came to faith, she persuaded all the members of her household to be baptized along with her. Her home was now a Christian home. Because of her influence, it is conceivable that not only her household, but also many of her Jewish and Gentile friends came to faith in Jesus.
In your life, what does it mean to open your heart to the gospel? What does it mean to open you home to the gospel? How can you use your resources and influence to introduce people to Jesus and disciple them in the faith?
Poem
God Forbid
I want to be a disciple
I’m on fire for the LORD
My spirit is overflowing
Like a cup filled with the word
Yet in my great exuberance
The Spirit holds the reins
Not time, not yet, not there right now
God forbid
I want to be obedient
My heart aflame for the LORD
My joy is bubbling over
Like a fountain spilling the word
Yet this stream of living water
The Spirit might divert
Not time, not yet, not there right now
God forbid
Rein me in LORD
And guide my steps
Divert my life
To places
You would have me go
A time to speak; A time for silence
A time to move; A time to stand still
God forbid me, as You will
