By Paul Chappell
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the
city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”
Acts 16:14
Lydia worked hard as a businesswoman who ran a textile
company. She was a “seller of purple” which refers to the dye extracted from
the Murex sea shell and used in dying clothing and materials. She had a busy
life, yet the Lord had been working in her heart. Lydia did not know the Lord,
but she had an open heart and was seeking for peace and meaning in life.
As Paul preached in the region of Macedonia, Lydia listened
to his preaching and her heart was opened by the Lord. The word heard in Acts 16:14
is a past imperfect tense verb, which indicates that Lydia had probably heard
the Gospel message more than once. God had been working in her heart for a
while before she heard Paul’s message and responded to God’s leading.
Many people are at different points of spiritual
receptivity. Some have hard hearts toward God’s message while others are
curious like Lydia. God calls us all to minister to other people and spread His
Gospel. But it is He alone who works in hearts to affect change.
As often as we go soulwinning or as passionate as we are to
see souls saved, only God can change hearts and bring people to salvation. I’m
sure many people heard Paul’s message in Macedonia and rejected it, yet God had
worked in Lydia’s heart so that she accepted His truth.
Being faithful without seeing immediate results can become
discouraging, but God promises that as you follow Him, He will bless your
faithfulness. Rather than becoming discouraged, pray that God will work in the
hearts of those around you. Be faithful to share the Gospel, and trust God to
convict hearts of His truth.
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