Meditation: May 13, 2007

" On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, `If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.' And she prevailed upon us. " Acts 16:13-14    

Reflection: What an encounter! I suspect that Lydia didn't wake up anticipating a life-changing faith experience. She simply went to a place of prayer on the Sabbath. We are not told exactly what happened, but the writer states that it was God who opened Lydia's heart. God gave her the gift of faith. Lydia accepted God's grace and was baptized. Then out of faith and love, she offered hospitality to Paul and his companions.

I think most of us who attend church regularly consider ourselves "worshipers of God." On Sunday mornings and at other times, we seek a place to gather with other believers to pray, praise and grow in faith. Do we experience faith-changing, life-changing moments like Lydia's conversion? I think we do. Ours may or may not be as dramatic. God meets us where we are, at whatever point our faith or even unbelief may be. God renews our spirits. God works through our pastors, church leaders, and Christian brothers and sisters to continually bring us to his good news.

After Lydia was baptized, accepting Jesus as her savior, she was stirred to acts of kindness. She welcomed Paul and his companions into her home. We too are called to extend compassion and kindness to others in the name of Christ. We pray for and support our own pastors and church leaders. We are called to witness, offering hope and hospitality to those in our community, to strangers and to all of God's children.

God opened Lydia's heart. God opens our hearts. God acts. God calls us to act.

Prayer: Open our hearts, O Lord, that we may hear your word through your servants around us. Amen

Question of
the Week: In what ways does God stir me to show compassion?        

Meditation written by Kristin Bensen of the St. John's Writing Team.