Europe’s First Convert
(Acts 16:11-15)
Lydia, a wealthy business woman had left Thyatira in Asia some time before and was now living in the city of Philippi, in Macedonia, a part of Europe. Thyatira had been full of idolatry, with men worshiping different gods. Thankfully, Lydia somewhere had the opportunity to hear of the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and she became a seeker and worshiper of Him. It may have been in her hometown, on one of her business trips, or maybe in the city of Philippi. Sadly, even her new home was in a city where the people worshiped the Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis, as well as the emperor and other deities. She had gone from one idolatrous city to another! In Philippi at least she found some who, like her, sought the truth.
One Saturday she was down by the riverside, meeting with some other women who worshiped God. Her business of making cloth for the wealthy, many of whom had no interest in spiritual matters, did not hinder her desire to seek God. Although these women can be commended for their desire, they were missing critical information about His Son, Jesus Christ.
That momentous Saturday, a new message arrived by means of the Apostle Paul and his companions. God had spoken to Paul by a man from Macedonia, who said: “Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:9). The “help” had to do with a very important message about a very important Man. This message was about the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary! Paul spoke to these women down by the riverside about the fact that there is a Savior living in glory, willing and able to save. The long-awaited Messiah had come and accomplished the work of salvation!
Lydia had already forsaken her heathen religion. She already knew that there was only one God, but now she heard from Paul of the “one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Ti 2:5). What a glorious message! To think that mankind in all of his rebellion and sin could ever be brought back to God causes our hearts to marvel. When we realize that the only way back is through the gift of His Son, our hearts bow in admiration as we consider God’s great love toward us.
However, it was not enough for Lydia to just hear Paul’s message. It is not enough for us to simply know about the truth. Paul wrote: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) As Lydia heard the Word of God, her heart was opened. She was not simply curious to hear “some new thing”; her heart was prepared to accept the truth that the only way back to God is to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (John 14:6).
“She attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Will you today count the matter of your soul’s salvation as most important in your life? Will you attend to the things you have heard? Personally receiving Christ as your Savior is your only hope for eternity. Do not delay!
