The Power of Hospitality

It’s nearly a week late. It’s the last chapter in the book we’ve been studying, Twelve Extraordinary Women.  

I don’t want to overlook the rich story of Lydia, the dealer of purple cloth. {Her subtitle tells us she was likely “well-off” for a woman in her day. Also that she was in the hub of societal commotion} Her story is found in Acts 16:11-15


Based on her name, we found out she was originally from Asia. But God moved her to Europe.


Paul, Timothy and Silas had set out for Asia but were stopped by the Holy Spirit from going. God Himself routed them to Philippi where Lydia, the Asian woman, was among the few Jewish women who worshipped God down by the river. (Acts 16:6-7)


Since there was no synagogue, there were likely not ten Jewish men in that town. Because it was customary that there would have to be ten faithful men to establish a synagogue.


But there was a weekly gathering of women by the river. Praying women. God-honoring women.


Paul always brought the gospel to the Jew first, according to the scriptures. Romans 1:16


So he waited until the Sabbath (Acts 16:13) and then went to ‘the place of prayer’ by the river where they spoke with the women who gathered there.


The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the gospel message. Acts 16:14


Immediately she and her household were baptized and she insisted that the missionaries stay in her house.


Once again, within just a few sentences about the life of a woman, we find enlightening revelation.


Because of Lydia’s “embryonic faith”, her hunger for God, she tuned in to the Word of God. She heard the gospel, and God opened her heart to respond. {We can pray for Him to open the hearts of those we are praying for too!}

The gospel came to Europe through a woman. Women give birth.


As we’ve seen this pattern of Jesus opening the way of the gospel through women, we marvel at the inroads to Eternal Life coming through women. In Lydia’s case through her hospitality offered to the men sent to preach.


Our wombs nurture life in God’s children. Our mouths, from the overflow of the heart, (Luke 6:45) telling the good news of salvation, uttering our umbilical message to nurture faith in hearts. The faith that comes by believing in Jesus. (Romans 10:17) Within our homes we nurture those who are sent.


We have the word of life to grow disciples of Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20)


Firsts:

  • Sarah, first mother of the faithful. The child of promise nurtured in her womb.
  • Rahab, first believer in her family-grafted into the lineage of Christ. Grandmother to Boaz.
  • Anna, first woman besides Mary, Jesus’ mother, to know of His birth into earth, preached to all who were wanting to hear.
  • The woman at the well, first to hear from Jesus that He IS Messiah! And first believer in and evangelist to Samaria. She ran from the well to tell. Many believed.
  • Mary Magdalene, first one Jesus revealed Himself to after resurrection. He told her to go and tell the disciples that He had risen.
  • And now Lydia. Her home became the hub of the gospel going forth into Europe. Because she opened her home to support Paul, Silas and Timothy as they shared the gospel. She nurtured the bearers of the good news in her home, so they could do the work God sent them to do. Preach the good news.


The fruit of her ministry birthed a rock-solid faith in Philippi.  The Philippian Christians were humble, generous believers giving greatly to the work of the ministry of Paul. (Philippians 4:15)


Lydia responded to the gospel with sacrificial action. She demonstrates the beauty and power of offering hospitality to carriers of the message of God.

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Perhaps one day God will give you an opportunity to offer hospitality! How are you already sharing in the work of bringing to good news into this dark world?


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