Tag Archives: Lydia

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.H. – Moved to Serve

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“Let me know if I can do anything for you.” This phrase is often tossed out by well-meaning people who care about others. But those truly burdened to help don’t say, “Let me know…” They say, “I’m bringing dinner. What time should I come?” Or “I’d like to babysit. What night do you want to go out with your spouse?”

“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”

Acts 16:15

In Acts, the author tells of Lydia’s conversion. When she and her family were baptized, Lydia insisted the apostle Paul and his companions come home with her. Today’s passage in The Message version says, “[Lydia] wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Lydia’s generosity for the servants of God teaches modern-day Christians how to meet needs as well.

Lydia was moved to hospitality. She didn’t say, “Let me know…” She insisted on the missionaries’ attendance. Do you meet the needs of others with as much passion as Lydia? Ask God to point out needs you can meet for others. Pray for servant hearts in Christians who are national leaders – that their service would reflect Christ on those who don’t know Him.

Recommended Reading: Acts 16:10-15

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – A Taste of Heaven

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The Lord opened her heart.  Acts 16:14

In Lydia’s conversion there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple goods, from the city of Thyratira, but at just the right time for hearing Paul we find her at Philippi; providence, which is the servant of grace, led her to the right spot. Again, grace was preparing her soul for the blessing—grace preparing for grace. She did not know the Savior, but as a Jewess she knew many truths that were excellent stepping-stones to a knowledge of Jesus. Her conversion took place in the use of the means. On the Sabbath she went to a place of prayer, and there prayer was answered. Never neglect the means of grace.

God may bless us when we are not in His house, but we have more reason to expect that He will when we are in fellowship with His people. Observe the words, “The Lord opened her heart.” She did not open her own heart. Her prayers did not do it; Paul did not do it. The Lord Himself must open the heart to receive the things that make for our peace. He alone can put the key into the door and open it and gain entry for Himself. He is the heart’s Master just as He is the heart’s Maker.

The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience. As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized. It is a sweet sign of a humble and broken heart when the child of God is willing to obey a command that is not essential to his salvation, that is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation, but is a simple act of obedience and of communion with his Master.

The next evidence was love, displaying itself in acts of grateful kindness to the apostles. Love for the saints has always been a mark of the true convert. Those who do nothing for Christ or His church provide no evidence of an “opened” heart. Lord, grant to us the blessing of opened hearts always!

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The family reading plan for December 10, 2014 * Zephaniah 2 * Luke 24

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Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Open the Way

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Joyce meyer

And when she [Lydia] was baptized along with her household, she earnestly entreated us, saying, If in your opinion I am one really convinced [that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of salvation] and that I will be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she induced us [to do it].—Acts 16:15

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was one of the most remarkable black women of her time. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute, she opened a school for black girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. From 1935–1944 she was a special advisor on minority affairs to President Franklin Roosevelt. She was the first black woman to head a federal agency and worked to see that blacks were integrated into the military. She also served as a consultant on interracial affairs at the charter conference of the United Nations. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women and was director of Negro Affairs for the National Youth Administration. The fifteenth of seventeen children born to slave parents, she came to have unrestricted access to the White House during Roosevelt’s life.

I admire those who are the first to do anything because the one who goes first endures more opposition than those who follow later. They are pioneers, and they open the way and pay the price for future generations.

Lord, Lydia opened her door to help Paul and those traveling with him, and I can open the way for others as well. Help me to be practical and take advantage of every opportunity to make a difference. Amen.