Lydia

Acts 16:11-15

Acts 16 includes the story of a woman named Lydia, who was a believer and baptized while Paul was in Macedonia. The story of Lydia and her influence is something to celebrate, but we first need to notice what she had accomplished already. Lydia was a business woman, selling expensive purple cloth, which would have required her to know the right people and be at a certain level of status in order to attain such goods. Some assume that Lydia was single/living independently (no partner), due to the fact that she was not associated with a man (which was very common in this context - women were known by the household of their husband). 

What is significant about Lydia is the fact that she knew what she attained and was seemingly settled in her stage of life, yet, she served without hesitation towards Paul and Silas in their ministry. She opened up her home to them willingly, she surrendered herself to Jesus through repentance, belief, and baptism, and the rest of her household followed suit. 

What we can take away from Lydia is that the things we have, the job we do, the lifestyle we live, can all be things used to glorify God and support his ministry. It doesn’t matter our status but instead of what we do with the means we have. I don’t think it was any coincidence that Paul let us know her occupation or way of life but instead allowed us to see that God can use any scenario to bring His Kingdom to earth. Lydia’s radical hospitality was meaningful and sacrificial. 

How can you be like Lydia and use your status, work, lifestyle to be a part of Kingdom movement?

In what ways can you open up your home and show radical hospitality?