seed to fall to the ground. Her heart was good soil which was fer tile and ready. Day-dreaming and other such in terferences while the Word of God is being preached nullify much of the results of the ministry in churches today. Do we listen atten tively, not being distracted by oth ers? Some people consider church to be some kind of a social club where they can whisper, pass notes back and forth, and shuffle ner vously here and there. Do not ever stand in the way of somebody be ing able to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and be saved thereby. An unusual phrase is used in describing Lydia's salvation. "Her heart the Lord opened" (vs. 14). Salvation is always on an individ ual basis. The sovereignty of God and personal conversion to Christ are taught definitely in the Word. Yet, we cannot deny or reject the doctrine of man's free will. Both are taught and both must be be lieved (John 6:37). The believer, in order to become a Christian, must be given to the Son by His heavenly Father, and then he must come to the Son (John 6:37, 44). The opening of the heart and mind to the truth is a supernatural work of God. It can only be done by Him alone (Ephes ians 2:8, 9). This is the work of the grace of God. Lydia's conversion to Christ was a great and historic event. What a blessing she received for setting aside the Sabbath for the Lord rather than for business. Lydia was baptized after she be- lived. The same took place with her household. She led out and the others individually and personally received Christ. She extended an urgent invitation to the mission-
go out to the mission field. Thank God for them! Carrying the Gospel to the lost is the job of men as well as women. The leader of the group seems to be Lydia who was "a seller of purple." She was a native of Thy- atira, a town of Asia Minor famous for its dying work with cloth and fabrics. Archaeological inscriptions bear witness to the existence of guilds or unions composed of those who sold this purple dye. Purple was the official Roman color. Bus iness was very lucrative in a Ro man colony where the wealthy people bought citizenship so that they could wear the purple as well as others. It was much like a status symbol. Our next study will deal more with Lydia's God-blessed ef Lydia's conversion is one of the most thrilling stories about women you will find anywhere. She be came one of the leaders of the early church in Europe. She was probably a Gentile by birth. Her name indicates that she wasn't a Jewess. It had been by choice that she embraced this religion. She worshipped God in the faith (Acts 16:14). When Paul presented the message she listened carefully and intently, giving heed to the mes sage of eternal life. She was living proof of such promises as Romans 10:9, 10, 17. This is the only way to become a true Christian. The Gospel is first preached, listened to with sincerity and interest, and finally, faith in Christ is experi enced (Luke 8:18). You know, it is one thing to hear, and another thing to really hear. This woman was truly touched. She did not permit one grain of the precious forts. LYDIA
Page 42
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker