Acts 16:11-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
11 So, setting
sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day
to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading
city of the[a] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day
we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place
of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One
who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of
purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay
attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was
baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged
me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed
upon us.
As I sat and read this passage today, what came to my mind
was “faithfulness”. As we see in this
passage, Paul and Silas were faithful in their efforts to proclaim the
Gospel. They traveled many places
telling others about the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, it was not their faithfulness that
convinced others to know Christ, it was through the prompting of the Holy
Spirit and the faithfulness of those prompted to hear and respond to that
calling.
Once Lydia responded to the call she became a part of the
faithfulness of sharing with others.
Opening her home to those who brought the message was the beginning of
her journey to be faithful and true to the God she loved and served. This is our calling too. We are not responsible for the response but
we are responsible to be used of God so others can hear the Good News. We don’t have to be forceful and demanding
but rather speak the truth and allow the Holy Spirit to do His part in
convicting. What’s more, we don’t have
to feel defeated if it is a negative response if we are using the Lord to
direct us. Negative responses are the
result of a heart not ready to hear or a hardened heart.
As we seek Him, may He find us being faithful to the calling
He has given us. Whether it is front of
a computer typing a blog or traveling the world or the city proclaiming His
Word, we must remember to be faithful to Him.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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