Chapter 11–Lydia: A Hospitable Heart Opened
Laurie’s thoughts here: http://maybeillblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/twelve-extraordinary-women-lydia.html
Lydia is known as the first convert in Europe but interestingly, she was not European but Asian. Of course in that area of the world, I’m not sure the difference between European and Asian is noticed as much as nationality itself.
Lydia was the head of her household, leading us to believe she was either a widow or inheirited a good estate from her father. She was a seller of purple which was rare and almost all went to the ruler of the land so she most likely made a nice profit each year. This is confirmed in that she had several members to her household and she begged Paul and his party to stay with her. We know that the party included at least Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke and perhaps others as well. Also since they had just arrived in the city on an evangelical mission, they anticipated staying for some time–probably at least a year or two.
In this chapter, John MacArthur goes to great lengths to explain that Lydia was drawn to Christ and that He gave her the faith to believe. Lydia was originally from an area where the Holy Spirit had prevented the men from speaking but it was important to the work for Lydia to hear the Word. And so, she was drawn by God to Philippi to conduct her business.
Philippi was a unique situation for Paul as well. He was accustomed to going to the synagogue and presenting the gospel of the Mesiah and then sharing it with the gentiles as well. In this case, there was no synagogue so Paul asked around until he found where the women were meeting for prayer.
I find it interesting that many Christians today try to “put women in their place” when, in fact, were it not for women having prayer on the side of the river in Philippi, there would be no book of Philippians and possibly no churches in Europe and so the gospel might have stopped right there. It would seem to me from this passage that the place for women is in prayer and in spreading the gospel and giving the gospel a place and a way. Not in sitting home while men take care of everything.
In any case, MacArthur makes the point that Lydia was seeking God but he goes to great lengths to say that God was first seeking Lydia or she could not have known to seek God.
While this may seem to be a paradox to some and an endorsement of predestination to others, I don’t believe that MacArthur means it to be either.
God pursues all of us–equally unless we have soooooo rejected the Holy Spirit that He has left us. God pursued Adam and Eve in the garden even though He knew what they had done. Jesus came to earth as a human baby to pursue and pay the penalty for all of us. It is said in scripture that He was not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance. I believe there is as much grief over the loss of a soul in heaven as there is rejoicing over those who accept the gospel.
Lydia was chosen for a special task, though. Just as we are but all our tasks are different. Lydia’s task was to take the men in, allow them to form a church in her home, and see the gospel spread first to Philippi and then to all of Europe. MacArthur notes that this was not a “safe” task for her. Because of growing persecution of Christians, this could very well cost her her business, her home, and her life.
But even in Lydia’s infantile faith, she took the risk and put it all on the line.
We would all do well to follow Lydia’s example as times are going to be much like Lydia’s sooner rather than later. Exactly when I cannot say but I know that before Christ comes again, there must be a full scale, world wide persecution of Christians. At that time it will not do to hide our Christianity in our hearts and cover it with prayer. We will need to be vigilant and hang our Christianity on our doorposts and rely on the living God to use us as He needs us.
In her new faith, Lydia did it. Why can’t we?
