“A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying” (Acts 16:14).
The account of Lydia is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the middle of the Book of Acts. Her story is only three verses long, but they are filled with details that tell us several things about her and illuminate how the Holy Spirit was working in and through the early church.
We know she sold purple cloth, which likely indicates she was a person of means. We know the Lord opened her heart to listen to Paul’s preaching. And we know immediately after she was baptized, along with her household, she urged the apostles to stay in her home.
I wonder if they exchanged a sideways glance or two as they decided whether to stay at Lydia’s house. This woman is very new to all of this, after all. What if her enthusiasm is short-lived? Can we trust her? That’s probably what I would have thought.
But instead, maybe what happened in that instant is that Paul and his friends decided to trust the Lord. Perhaps they remembered again that it was him—and not them—who was responsible for the changes they had seen sweeping the crowds who came to hear them proclaim the gospel. Maybe the Lord of the harvest impressed upon these laborers that their task was to keep telling people about Jesus, and he would handle the rest.
Whatever the reason, they were “persuaded” to accept her invitation, we read in verse 16. Lydia’s conversion, and her immediate act of service, is recorded in Scripture for those of us who have ever needed those same reminders.
When people come to Christ, especially as adults, it would be easy to let them settle in without requiring much of them in terms of service. We need to see how things pan out, we might say. Certainly, new Christians need training and mentoring and accountability. We all do. But Lydia’s story is a reminder that church leaders can trust the Lord’s leading.
Our own lives are testimonies that he not only draws people to himself, but also calls us to good works prepared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). May we remember that the next time a Lydia enters our lives with a will to serve.
Meredith Flynn is a wife, mother of two, and writer living in Springfield. She and her family are active members of Delta Church.