Lydia, Sharing Christ in Word and Deed

“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.”

—Acts 16:15 (NIV)

A mere five verses in Acts shares the story of Lydia. Despite the brevity of the telling, Lydia’s witness continues to reach out to us over these many years.

Lydia, a woman who worshipped God and was a seller of purple fabric from Thyatira, provided well for her household. On one particular Sabbath, Paul went outside the city to the riverside. He was looking for people who were praying. Sitting down and talking with the women who met there, Paul told them about the Lord.

Lydia heard Paul’s words and in response, Lydia and her household believed and were baptized. Lydia’s influence on the members of her household was strong, as evidenced by the fact that everyone followed her example and believed in the Lord.

Lydia loved God and immediately believed the truth about Jesus as Paul preached the gospel. I imagine that Lydia was filled with joy. Right away, she beseeched Paul to accept her faithfulness to and belief in the Lord and come to stay at her house where she could provide for and care for Paul. Without delay, Lydia put her faith in action (Acts 16:11-15).

Words and actions. Paul sought out people who were open to hearing about the Lord (action) and shared the gospel with them (words). Lydia also spoke important words and put her faith in action by extending hospitality to the bearers of the good news about Jesus.

How can we put our faith into words and actions? Consider Mission Friends. We know the preschoolers in our classrooms respond to our words and our actions. Perhaps how we live out our faith in our classrooms is how we ought to share Christ in word and deed. With sincerity, joy, truth, dedication, intentionality, and much prayer.

Pray:

Lord Jesus, Thank You for giving us biblical examples of sharing You with others through our words and deeds. Open the hearts of those around us to hear and believe the good news of You. Please equip us with the right words and actions as we lead the preschoolers You have placed in our care. In Jesus’ name, amen.