What Happens When Our Hearts Opens Up?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we explore scripture about a model for a woman working outside the home who brings God’s work to her home. We look at the story of Lydia the first European convert to Christianity. And then we ask another process question. What Happens When Our Hearts Opens Up?
Scripture: We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 16:11-15 (NRSV)
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:
Revelation 2:18 (NRSV)
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (NRSV)
Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
John 13:9-11 (NRSV)
Message: It is tempting to make one’s business one’s religion. This mistake took Judas out. His heart was in the wrong place. Where as in the case of Jesus he served in love because that was the Father’s calling for him. These are very different expressions of the heart. Lydia is an example of a businesswoman who seems to have gotten both business and religion right. Well, perhaps I should say that God opened her heart so her emotions of love would heal her and help her understand her higher calling. We do not know a lot about her, but it is a fair guess that she was strong and intelligent and a good salesperson. The purple cloth she manufactured and distributed was a valuable material, often worn as a sign of nobility. The purple dyes were extracted from various shells and roots that required her to travel to source them. Her name and product line and one of the places where she lived may have been synonymous. In spite of competing in a male-oriented society, Lydia was likely a leader in her community. She lived in a gateway town of Thyatira located in modern-day Turkey but experienced her conversion in Philippi in modern-day Greece, where she had a large home. It is fair to say she travelled. Her home town is referenced in one of the longer letters to the churches in Revelation which is surprising because it seems to have been one of the smaller communities. The Church of Philippi has its own letter from Paul but is not referenced in Revelation. The seven letters of Paul to churches and the seven churches in Revelation do not match up. Regardless, what is most telling about Lydia in today’s passages is not that she exemplified today’s proverb, for there is no reference to her being married, but what is important is that her heart was opened up by the Holy Spirit through Paul. I have always wondered if Paul might under different circumstances have considered such a woman as a potential wife. They seem to have shared an intimacy that is intriguing but it is probably fanciful to say that they got married. What is instructive is that her open heart led to an open house. She has become an example of hospitality. For me it is clear that they loved each other.
Pray God removes our spiritual blindness. Pray God gives us a job to do. Pray God gives us trusting hearts. Pray God enable us to see the truth of God’s word and to believe. Pray the Spirit draws us to salvation. Pray we are defined by our family and friends and not just our job. Pray we keep a healthy balance in life. Pray our hearts are opened. Pray we always find time to love. Pray we open our homes and hearts to God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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