Beyond the Weekend

September 17 | Open Heart, Open Home

September 17, 2019

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. Acts 16:14b-15a

Read: Acts 16:11-15

Listen: Acts 16

TODAY’S MESSAGE

It was time to get to work. Paul begins to share the Jesus-message in Phillipi by seeking out the worshipping Jewish community. He finds a group of women gathered for prayer by a river and begins to explain who Jesus is and how he is the promised Messiah. One of those listening is a Gentile convert to Judaism, Lydia. This businesswoman from Thyatira responds to the gospel and believes in Jesus. Paul spoke, Lydia listened, and the Lord opened her heart.

But the story doesn’t end there. We read that Lydia believes, is baptized and then immediately opens her home to Paul and the team. Her hair isn’t even dry from her baptism, and she places her resources at God’s disposal. It didn’t take her years to get to this point. She welcomes Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke into her home within minutes of her conversion. Open heart, open home.

What a fantastic example for us. Jesus saving Lydia motivated her to place her resources in God’s hands. It should do the same for us. God’s amazing grace in our lives is all the reason we need to give all we have to God. This giving is something we get to do—not something we have to do. It’s the power of the gospel working in our lives in practical ways.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Identify one resource you can place at God’s disposal. It might be a vehicle you no longer need, a vacant apartment/room or some gently-used appliances you’re replacing. In your journal, list the next steps you can take to make that resource available for God to use. Follow through on your plan by the end of the week.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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