Page 21 - January 2025 - Truth & Tidings

atira, a city famous for its purple dye. be a little outpost of heaven in the dark,
This particular dye was very difficult to sin-soaked city of Philippi. If Philippi
produce and, therefore, very expensive was full of greed and oppression (Act
to buy. Only the wealthy could afford to 16:16), then her home would be a place of
own purple clothing or furnishings. As a generosity and comfort (v15). If Philippi
“seller of purple,” Lydia likely imported persecuted the messengers of Christ and
goods from her hometown of Thyatira drove them away (vv23,39), then her home
and sold them in Philippi. Her business would welcome them in with kindness
was quite successful, judging from the and Christian fellowship (v40). The same
size of her house, but she didn’t let her gospel that transformed her heart also
wealth distract her from seeking after transformed her home.
God. When most of her Gentile friends After Paul and Silas were freed from
were still praying to heathen idols, she prison, they stopped by her house one last
instead worshipped the one true God of time before leaving the city to encourage
Israel. As she sought after Him, little did the believers who were gathered there. I
she realize that He was also seeking after wonder if they also brought along some
her, in a most remarkable way. new Christians to introduce to them – the
In His sovereign mercy, God had redi- jailer and his family. What a surprise that
rected Paul away from Asia, towards Europe, would have been! The warmth of Lydia’s
so that Lydia – a woman from Asia, who hospitality nurtured the new believers in
was living in Europe – could hear the good Philippi.
news of the gospel and be saved. Such are We never read about Lydia again after
His unsearchable ways! this, but I think we see her character
As Paul spoke with her, the Lord reflected in the Philippian church in years
opened her heart, and she believed on to come. Just like she faithfully stood by
Christ (16:14). She went home and shared Paul and Silas when they were imprisoned
the gospel with her household, and they at Philippi, so the Philippian church
also believed. Together they obeyed the continued standing with Paul throughout
Lord in baptism. his later imprisonments (Php 1:7). Just
An Open Home as she supported his gospel work with
practical hospitality, so the Philippian
Lydia’s open heart (towards the gospel) church gave generously to Paul, time and
led to her having an open home (for the time again, throughout his ministry (4:15-
gospel). First, she invited Paul and his 16). When Paul couldn’t come to them,
companions to stay with her (16:15). Then, they sent one of their own, Epaphroditus,
she welcomed the believers to gather at to minister to him in prison (2:25; 4:18).
her house, making it the first meeting No wonder Paul called them “my dearly
place of the Philippian church (v40). beloved brethren … my joy and crown”
Years earlier, the Romans had made (4:1). Through these godly saints, Lydia’s
Philippi one of their colonies, so that it legacy of kindness continued on. Only
would serve as a little outpost of Rome the Day of Christ will fully reveal the rich
in the province of Macedonia. Now that fruit of the work that God began in them
Lydia had become a heavenly citizen (Php through an open door, an open heart, and
3:20), she similarly wanted her home to an open home (1:6).

TruthandTidings.com I January 2025 21 21