In today’s story we meet Lydia—a worshiper of God and a seller of purple; but what she is not, is a Christian. Yet, God opens the ears of Lydia and allows her to hear and understand the words of Paul and she becomes one of the first (if not the first) European Christians in history.

The fact that Lydia runs into the apostles here on the riverside seems like mere chance. She herself is traveling, selling cloth, and the apostles show up to pray and be alone—but this is divine intervention.

God, who has prepared Lydia to receive the gospel, having exposed her to the writings and teachings of the old testament, places her in the path of the apostles.

Believers, believe that when we are led to speak the gospel to someone it is God who has orchestrated this moment.

For those praying for the lost, trust the work of Jesus, and think of these words of Spurgeon: God will shake Heaven and Earth sooner than suffer one elect soul to miss their moment to hear and be changed by the Gospel

[Acts 16.11-15]

16.11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is Lydia doing here?

+ What do the apostles head to the riverside to do?

+ What happens instead?

+ What is the response of Lydia to conversion?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How is God calling you to obedience?

+ Are you a worshiper of God or a Follower of Jesus? This can be answered on a macro or micro level.

+ How am I responding to the truth of the Gospel?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who has God led me to at seemingly random riversides?

+ Who has God put in my life to plant seeds with and love?