I did a lesson on Lydia this Sunday for Sunday School.
I enjoyed looking things up and learning more about Lydia.
Acts 16:14-15
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.
and when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
The name Lydia means *bending*
Thyatira was known for their purple dye.
She worshipped God.....
she wasn't yet a believer.
attended: pay attention
besought: to beg for urgently, a request
judged: form opinion, to determine
abide: stay, dwell, tarry
constrained: to secure by
Purple IS a royal color and now I know why.
The dye came from a certain kind of *fish*
and it was hard to get.........
All the other color dyes were easy to get.
greens, browns, reds
Purple was expensive. Only the wealthy wore purple.
She heard the Word.
Bent her will.
God saved.
She took the risk and got baptised. We don't know what that means in our little world. To follow God in obedience through baptism doesn't cause family separation or even death in our world. It can cause problems, but they are small and few compared to what some people live and know.
We safely rest in most of our spiritual decisions.
We may think we are opposed and persecuted.
But we're really not compared to what could really be happening.
What is better to be adorned with?
Purple or Truth?
Lydia sold something rich people desired, but she OWNED something that was better by far.
And so do we....but we so soon forget.
eager to learn
opened her heart
obedient to baptism
confessed her belief
wanted to serve
opened her home
hospitable
If we have all of those things and don't find them grievous, we have more than any rich person.
grievous: burdensome or oppressive
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,
Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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Deby