Purposed

folds of purple fabric — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

13 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. 14 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. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (Acts 16:13-15)

When Paul, Silas, and Timothy were traveling through Macedonia, they went to a place of prayer where women were gathered, and Lydia was among those listening as Paul spoke about Jesus. Lydia had a stable home, a thriving business in purple cloth, she worshiped God - she seemed to have it all. Yet, so taken was she by the message that Paul proclaimed, that she and all of her household were baptized that day.

Earlier in Acts 16, we are told that the Holy Spirit would not allow Paul and his companions to preach in some places, and they were unable even to travel to others. So when they got to Macedonia, it was with intention that they went directly to a place where women gathered to pray. That was the ultimate "What would Jesus do?" moment. As Paul was now considered an outcast by many of his fellow Jews, he now prioritized the marginalized. He could not have predicted that, in that group of women, there would be an uncommon woman of such prominence and influence as Lydia. She listened to Paul - giving him the same non-judgmental respect that he'd given the women congregants. Lydia's faith had the potential to impact her entire community. Her faith certainly impacted Paul, as he and Silas retuned to her home after they were imprisoned and released. Because Paul and Lydia each walked in their purpose - understanding the power and potential of their own stories - they were able to be blessings to one another, and they encouraged the faith of so many others.

We may never be able to predict where God will use us, but we can trust that every twist and turn in our story has a purpose. We don't need to separate ourselves from any part of our journey - no matter how difficult, controversial, or painful. We can embrace it all because God can use it all.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face shine on us—

2 so that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations.

3 May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you rule the peoples with equity

and guide the nations of the earth.

5 May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

6 The land yields its harvest;