In chapter one, we looked at the Biblical character Timothy. His life gives us a good illustration of the consecrated life. Everytime we read about Timothy in Scripture, he is obeying and serving God. When he travelled with Paul, he probably met Lydia:
...from there [we went] to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (Acts 16:12-15, emphasis added)
Lydia was a Gentile woman who lived in Philippi. I wonder if she felt like a bit of an outsider as she met with these faithful Jewish women to pray. There weren't enough Jewish men in Philippi to have a synagogue there, but a few women gathered for prayer on the Sabbath day. Lydia was a business woman, a seller of fine cloth. She heard the truth, the Lord opened her heart, and she committed her life to Him.
As you read and study today, ask the Lord to open your heart to hear His voice.
As soon as Lydia responded to the gospel, she immediately served the Lord by offering what she had: her home.
That is what the Lord asks each of us to do: serve with what we have, without comparing ourselves to the way others are equipped to serve Him.
Just offer what you have.
Serve the Lord with gladness...(Psalm 100:2)
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