February 8
Finding the Way
“Whose heart the Lord opened…” —Acts 16:14
Read Acts 16:1-15
You must have realized by now that the Lord uses different methods to bring His people to conversion. Yesterday we discussed the history of Saul of Tarsus. Today we wish to look at the work of the Lord in Lydia’s heart. In verse 13 we read that this woman was “where prayer was wont to be made.” We would say that she was a woman who faithfully went to church every Sabbath Day.
There is a difference, of course, in how we attend church. It may be out of custom, or perhaps your parents require your church attendance. But going to church could also be the true desire of your heart, which was also true of Lydia.
Lydia could be found, as is sometimes said, “at the workshop of the Holy Spirit.” When we attend church services with this frame of mind, the Lord is pleased to give His blessing, as He did to Lydia. She paid attention to what the Apostle Paul was saying (v. 14) as he taught about the Lord and this truth was blessed to her heart. In the stillness of her heart she agreed with the Word of God and desired to belong to this King. Looking at herself, she realized that she did not deserve this belonging, but her heart longed to serve Him! If only the Lord would in some way encourage her. The Lord opened her heart, and as a result she and her house were baptized. Lydia learned to serve God and sought to become useful in God’s Kingdom. She showed hospitality to Paul, taking him into her home. With the blind man, in John 9:25, she was able to confess, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
Have you ever become jealous of Lydia? Why or why not?
This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.