Acts 16:14 “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”

One of the most miraculous things in the aftermath of Christ’s resurrection, is the rapid expansion of the early church centered on Jesus Christ.

Paul and Silas were now in the city of Philippi.
Paul was now on his second great evangelistic tour.

They had preached over the greater portion of Asia Minor, and now, by the direction of the Lord they had been brought over into the district of Macedonia, unto the city of Philippi.

While going to an area of prayer in town, Paul speaks to some women in the area.

Through his words, God opens the heart of a woman named Lydia .
She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God.

Lydia was from Thyatira, a city in what is now Turkey.
This city was known for its dyeing industry, famed especially for the purple goods it produced.

Lydia has the honor of being the first person converted by Paul to Christianity on European soil.

It was in her home, no doubt, that the first Christian congregation in Europe was to meet, and the first church in Europe was to be organized.

The term “heart” is used here in a figurative sense and refers to Lydia’s intellect.

Scripture teaches that when a person engages his or her heart, he/she…. “thinks”, “understands”, “reasons”, “perceives”, and/or *believes.

The Lord opened Lydia’s intellect by means of His Truth.

Two thousand years ago the Lord opened Lydia’s heart. She was so changed by her new relationship with Jesus that she became one of His most devoted followers.

God still opens hearts.

He opened Lydia’s heart to receive the truth.
He opened my new friend’s heart to receive relationships and restoration.
He opens my heart to hope.

Maybe, like me, you have been praying for a loved one for a long time.

Perhaps there are days when it feels as if the prayers aren’t working.
But like carefully planted seeds, those prayers are received one by one by our Heavenly Father, until one day they poke through the ground of our loved one’s heart to receive the Light.

Continue to pray that God opens the heart of those we love.

A softened heart is more compassionate, more able to see others as God sees them.

Regardless of whether we’re new believers, old believers, or not yet believers at all, ….
let all of us open our hearts to God today to receive and accept HIS grace, mercy, and transforming love.

May the Lord bless us and reveal new and wonderful treasures to our hearts.

Jooley Mathew Z
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