LYDIA


A. "AND A CERTAIN WOMAN NAMED LYDIA, A SELLER OF PURPLE, OF THE CITY OF THYATIRA, WHICH WORSHIPPED GOD HEAR US; WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED THAT SHE ATTENDED UNTO THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY PAUL" - ACTS 16:14
  1. The story of Lydia, a seller of purple is in the Bible for a purpose:
    1. It unfolds some of the virtues in that God-fearing woman which extols the blessings of the fear of the Lord
    2. The more and the closer we study the brief record of Lydia, the more it becomes fascinating to us
  2. We see:
    1. That she was an industrious woman not given to idle gossip and vain glory
    2. That was motivated by high principles and was possessed by an open mind to truth
B. NOTE THESE TRUTHS ABOUT LYDIA OF THE CITY OF THYATIRA
  1. She was a devout woman - "which worshipped God":
    1. That is a mark of the highest concept of life - by an standard, "they shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth" - John 4:22-23
    2. Said Jesus to Lucifer, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" - Matt. 4:10
    3. But with the worship of God goes serving Him; doing His will - Joshua 24:15
  2. She was a seeking worshiper:
    1. That meant that Lydia had an open inquiring mind for truth - like the Bereans Acts 17:11
    2. Prayed the Psalmist, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" - Ps. 119:17
  3. She was given to hospitality:
    1. Christian hospitality indicates the spirit of loving service to the cause of God; the workers of God found her home a place of refuge and refreshment
    2. That is what Christians do - Heb. 13:2
C. WHAT A NOBLE LIFE LYDIA PORTRAYS
  1. She possessed three outstanding virtues:
    1. Consecration or dedication - having an open mind for truth; ever ready to walk in the light that came to her from the word of God
    2. That shows that she was a just woman - "But the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" - Prov. 4:18
    3. "Not slothful in business" - Rom. 12:11 In this she followed the example of a virtuous woman - Prov. 31:10-31
    4. "Serving the Lord" - Rom. 12:11 - that is the highest type of Christian service this writer know of
  2. Can we duplicate these God inspired virtues in our daily life?
    1. Take time - daily to have worship; Examples: Daniel did - Dan. 6:10; the Psalmist did - S. 55:17
    2. Think, dear reader, what a change it would bring to our society, if the modern woman would serve God instead of mamon or the pride of life and the lust of the flesh - I John 2:15-16
    3. Lydia was a business woman, and yet she served the Lord; she had considerable knowledge of the true God; yet she kept an open mind for truth - John 16:13-14
    4. How different is the attitude of the period of Laodicea in which time we live - Rev. 3:14-17 Summary: In reading the Bible story of Lydia we see seven specific virtues for Christians to imitate:
    5. She was a devout woman - "she worshipped God" - Acts 16:14 - what more could we do?
    6. She had an open mind for truth - "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which Paul spoke" - Acts 16:14
    7. She loved and practiced hospitality; she was not ashamed of the Lord's prisoners - I Tim. 5:10; Heb. 13:2; I Peter 4:9
    8. She was a consecrated woman - "fervent in spirit" - Rom. 12:11
    9. "Not slothful in business" used her time and talent wisely


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