Lydia

My daughter turned four today, which means in a day or so, this blog will turn four too. But that's not important right now. 

Lydia shares the same name with a woman mentioned briefly in the Book of Acts. She was not named for this woman; she was named for a song made famous by Groucho Marx and later Kermit the Frog. That's not really important right now either. 

I'm doing a lot of writing for children's ministry right now, and I just wrote a brief devotion about the woman Lydia. As my own daughter turns four, I hope and pray that she will grow up to emulate the qualities I've written about the Biblical Lydia. Those thoughts are below, and you're welcome to use them if you like. 

Happy birthday, Lydia, I love you!

 

At the beginning of this devotional, show the kids a piece of fine cloth or linen that is purple in color. 

How many of you like the color purple? Purple was a very special color back in Biblical times. Do you know who wore the color purple? Purple was usually reserved for royalty and people who were very wealthy.

The book of Acts tells us a story about a women whose job was selling purple cloth. Her name was Lydia, and because we know she sold purple cloth, we know that she was a wealthy woman. She was also a believer in God because when we meet her, she is at a prayer meeting with Paul and Silas.

Lydia heard a message that day in which Paul told these believers in God that they needed to also believe in God’s Son, Jesus. Paul told them that Jesus was a descendant of David, and that God had raised him from the grave in order to offer forgiveness from our sins.

Lydia believed in Jesus that day, and she and her whole house were saved. But Lydia’s story doesn’t end with her accepting Christ. Lydia invited the believers to come and meet at her house! In fact, the scripture says she begged Paul and Silas to stay with her so she could take care of their needs.

Later on in this same chapter, we read where Paul and Silas were put in prison. As soon as they were released, guess where they went? They went back to Lydia’s house, where they were cared for once more.

A lot of people think becoming a Christian is all about what we call their personal walk – their relationship with Jesus. They think it’s about Bible study and small groups and Sunday School and quiet times and prayer. It is, but that’s not all! Being a Christian means putting our faith into action the way Jesus, his disciples, the apostle Paul, and Lydia did.

Lydia didn’t wait two or three years to start serving God. She didn’t say, “As soon as I get my walk with God straight, I will serve the Lord.” She accepted the Lord, and she immediately offered what she had – her home – to God.

Having a personal walk with Jesus is very important, but if we never open our eyes to see the needs that others have, if we never step out and take action to meet the needs of others, are we really acting like followers of Christ? Lydia reminds us you don’t need a lot of years of walking with God to serve him. You just need to be willing to take action!