An Open Heart – Lydia Made New

As we continue to look at men and women of the New Testament who were made into new creations by their faith in Jesus Christ, today we turn our gaze on Lydia, the open-hearted woman Paul encountered on a missionary trip.

Who Was Lydia?

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14)

Paul met Lydia in Philippi (Acts 16:12), located in what is now modern Greece. Based on Scriptural records, this appears to have been the first place Paul preached in Europe. Lydia was from Thyatira, a city in what is now Turkey. This city was known for its dyeing industry, famed especially for the purple goods it produced.

Lydia evidently learned the trade in her hometown and brought her expertise to Philippi, as we are told in Acts 16:14 that she was “a seller of purple goods.” We don’t learn much about Lydia; a husband is never mentioned, which is somewhat unusual. She clearly was a businesswoman, and probably a woman of means, as she had her own home (Acts 16:15)

“The expression σεβ. τὸν Θεόν shows that she was “a proselyte of the gate”; she could easily have gained her knowledge of the Jewish religion as she was πόλεως Θυατείρων where a Jewish colony had been planted, and there is reason to believe that the Jews were specially devoted to the dyeing industry for which Thyatira and the Lydian land in general were noted. Thus the inscriptions make it certain that there was a guild of dyers οἱ βαφεῖςat Thyatira, “  Expositors Greek Testament

Lydia is considered the first convert to Christianity in Europe. What can Lydia show us about what a new creation looks like?

An Open Heart

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26

God opened Lydia’s heart to receive the truth about Jesus: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14). Once God opens your heart to Him it is never the same!

A softened heart is more compassionate, more able to see others as God sees them. Those who truly abide in Christ can’t help but reach out toward the needy as He did.

Open hearts are more ready to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30 and 31)

“Heart, in Scripture sense, signifies both the understanding and the will: thus, ‘With the heart man believeth unto righteousness’ (Romans 10:10). [Lydia’s] understanding was enlightened, her heart changed; she now loved what she before hated, and hated what before she loved. “ Mathew Poole

Open Ears

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

When God makes us new, we become more attentive! We begin to hear His Word in a new way. We recognize His presence and His influence on our lives.

“Luke recognises the attentive interest, which Lydia with her heart unclosed directed to the word, as produced by the influence of the exalted Christ (ὁ Κύριος) working for the promotion of His kingdom” – Heinrich Meyer

Lydia didn’t just listen one time. The Greek word ἤκουεν is in the imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing hearing. Like Lydia, you and I have had our ears opened for an ongoing conversation with God that will last for eternity!

Open Hands

One of the first things we are told that Lydia does after being baptized is invite Paul and his companions to her home, not just to visit, but to stay. Later, after Paul and Silas were released from prison, they went back and saw Lydia again. The text indicated there may have been many at the house:

“So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.” – Acts 16:40

Lydia had open hands, and generously gave of what she had. Being transformed by Jesus helps us see that material goods are not only fleeting, but a gift from God, and meant to be shared.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. – Acts 4:32

Scripture also tells us that Lydia was baptized along with her whole household (Acts 16:15). She did not keep the good news to herself, but generously shared with those whom she loved and was responsible for. The truth about Jesus Chris was the best gift she could give!

New Creation

Like Lydia, the transforming work of Jesus Christ in our lives grows in us open hearts, open ears, and open hands.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Though life may seem the same around you and difficulties still arise, inside you have been made new, and through Christ you have the strength to joyfully live open hearted!