A Gentile Finds Jesus!

             Early on Paul’s second missionary journey, he had a vision of a man begging him to come to the Roman province of Macedonia.  Paul and his traveling companions didn’t hesitate.  They left immediately to preach the Gospel in this new territory in what is now known as Europe.

            Philippi was one of the first cities that they entered.  It was a prominent Roman colony, and many former Roman officers had settled there.  Paul was accustomed to seeking out the local Synagogue when he entered a city, but Philippi had so few Jews that there was no Synagogue.  The next best place to worship was outdoors near running water, so when the Sabbath came, Paul and his companions went down by the river to find a place to pray. 

            When they arrived, they found a group of women who had already gathered for that same reason.  Perhaps the most prominent among them was a woman named Lydia.  She was a Gentile from the city of Thyatira, which was well known for dying cloth, especially purple.  She had relocated to Philippi and continued her business there.  Lydia was probably well-to-do as she owned her own home and had servants.  Though she was not a Jew, she had become a follower of Jehovah God. 

            On that fateful day, down by the river outside the city of Philippi, she heard the Gospel message for the first time.  God took notice of her heart and enabled her to not just understand but also respond to the Gospel message.  She became the first Christian convert in Europe.  Both she and everyone in her household were immediately baptized.

            Immediately after her conversion, Lydia became a servant in God’s Kingdom.  She persuaded Paul and his entire group to come to stay at her home while they continued to preach the Good News in Philippi.  While they were preaching, they ran into trouble with the authorities and ended up in jail.  When they were finally released, they knew exactly where to go—Lydia’s house.  There they found all the new believers gathered, awaiting word from them.  The men encouraged these new believers before they left.

            We don’t know what happened to Lydia and the other believers after Paul left, but we do know that some 10 years later, the church at Philippi was thriving, having both elders and deacons.  While in prison in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the church there, saying, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,” (Philippians 1: 4, 5 NIV84).  We don’t know if Lydia was still there to receive that message, but we can only imagine the joy that the church must have felt in reading Paul’s words. 

            Lydia’s story teaches us that when we seek a deeper relationship with God, He hears and responds.  Paul showing up at that riverside that day was no coincidence.  She also shows us that acceptance of Christ is only the beginning.  She immediately began to influence others and began to serve by opening her home to the evangelists.

            God’s desire is for us to draw closer to Him.  That requires us to respond when He calls.  It also requires us to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to be available to serve Him and His Kingdom. 

            Do you have a “Lydia” in your life that needs to hear the Good News?  Do you need to find a place where you can serve in the Kingdom?  God is waiting, and He will show you the way.  Just ask.

Acts 16: 9 – 15 & 40

Philippians 1: 1 - 8