Lydia from the Bible

Lydia Becomes a Believer

From: devotional-reflections

We are told first of all, that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart. Make no mistake; it is God who saves us. Yes, we make the choice, but not without God changing our heart first! Do we understand that completely? No, we don’t. Men have been arguing that point for centuries. Don’t waste your time haggling over the little things; spend your time working for the Lord, and showing His true love to those around you!

What exactly did Paul tell Lydia? Let’s use Paul’s own words to explain this.

”Men of Israel, and ‘you who fear God, listen: . . . . From this man’s seed [David], according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus. . . . And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. . . . For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

So, what is it that Lydia from the Bible now understood? Believing in God is not enough! The Bible tells us that the devils also believe and tremble in fear. Yes, God is God and our belief begins with Him; but, if we truly understand God, we know that our sins keep us from being able to fellowship with this Great and Holy God. Therefore, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to live on this earth, and die on the cross to pay the debt to God for our sins.

Yes, believe in God; but you must believe also that Jesus died for your sins, was resurrected, and lives in Heaven with God to intercede for us. Our hope is in Christ and His resurrection.

Because He lives, we can fall before Him asking Him to forgive our sins, and rest on Christ alone for our true salvation. Now, the door to God is opened for us; God does not see our sins, but instead sees the blood of Christ shed for us. That is what Lydia understood!