Tuesday, May 16

14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Acts 16:14-15

Lydia: A God-Fearing Woman

Today, we continue our look at Lydia (Λυδία, Lydia) of Thyatira, who, in review, is a wealthy, God-fearing Gentile who is reported as the first Christian in Europe. Further, her house appears to have been a meeting place for the Philippian Church. (Lexham Bible Dictionary) In verse 14 of Acts 16, Lydia is described as "a God-fearing woman." In the 1st Century, "God-fearing" was a term used for Gentiles (aka non-Jews), who still worshipped the Jewish God, Yahweh. We see this same term used to describe Cornelius in Acts 10:2, those in Thessalonica in Acts 17:4, and those in Athens in Acts 17:17. Said another way, "God-Fearers" were not ethnically Jewish but those who adopted and practiced Jewish faith. While the Jewish people and these God-fearers worshipped the one true and living God, they were not considered a part of the New Testament Church, as they did not know or receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.It is in the practice of her God-fearing faith that we first hear of Lydia in Acts 16:13. The text tells us that it was on the Sabbath day, and Paul and Timothy had gone to the city gate with the expectation of finding a place of prayer and worship, as was the custom on the Sabbath Day. What they discovered was a group of women, Lydia included, who were gathered for prayer.Paul and Timothy sat down and began to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see in verse 14, that Lydia was present, Lydia was listening, and the Lord opened Lydia's heart to the good news of the gospel. It was at this moment that Lydia's identity shifted from the technical term "A God-Fearer" to "A Child of God." She was now a part of this new family of God that was marked by undeserved grace and unmatched love.Romans 1:16 states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." The power of God came sweeping through Lydia's life that Sabbath day as she heard that Gospel and experienced salvation.Today, may we be present, (be in the places we need to be not only the places that we want to be), be listening (be attentive and present to the moment) and may we ask the Lord to open our hearts to the truth of His Word.