"On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message..."
Initially I was really struck by Lydia being identified as a "worshiper of God." (I'd love to be known as such!) But when I went back and read this section again, what stood out even more was that those who were with Paul (i.e. "we") focused on others more than themselves. They were initially looking for a place to pray, and in the process began striking up conversations with the women who were gathered. Furthermore, it's out of those conversations, that Lydia, and subsequently her household came to know Jesus.
Paul and company could've focused intently on spending time with God and ignored the women to spend their own personal time in prayer. However, at that moment they chose to look around and talk to others. [I do believe that there are definitely times where we need to take time out to pray in solitude (see Matthew 14 entry), but our times of solitude must fuel compassion/looking beyond ourselves and engaging in conversation with others. For it's in those moments that we are able to see God's hand intersecting lives for His purposes. (I'm sure it must have been such a blessing to interact with Lydia and see her devotion/worship of God ooze out of her very being!)] Imagine if Paul and company just passed these women by...we would never have heard of Lydia, nor would they (i.e. the women) have heard of Jesus!
I hope and pray that God would help me to look beyond myself as well...
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