“Lord, Open My Heart This Day To Respond To Your Message!”

“Lord, Open My Heart This Day To Respond To Your Message!”(Acts 16:8-15).
Harold Turner states that the gospel appeals to people with primal religions more than it appeals to people who had no prior religion. Turner is careful not to use traditional or indigenous. He prefers primal as it refers to what is prior. When the gospel reaches people with primal religions they seem to say, “This is what we have been waiting for.” Primal religion is praeparatio evangelica – a preparatory ground for the gospel.
Paul told the people of Lystra, and by extension to us that in the past God may have allowed all people to go their own way, “Yet he has not left himself without testimony…” He revealed himself through his creation, though some mistook it for objects of worship(Acts14:16-17).
The conversion of Lydia in Philippi is one such demonstration of how God only takes what was already there to make anew. The incarnated Lord Jesus Christ did not bring anything new but himself. He used what was there to make known himself; the only new thing.
Lydia was a worshipper of God. When Paul and Silas spoke to the women, “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”
One’s state of mind and what is already there is what prepares one’s heart to receive God’s word. That is why we need this constant reminder: “Today if you hear God’s voice harden not your hearts before him.”
When God’s words penetrates our hearts it must lead to loving action. Lydia and her entire household were baptized, then she invited the servants of God to her home, saying, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” The chronicler says, “And she persuaded us.”
Dear friend, may God’s word each time lead us to concrete actions of love and fellowship. Lydia’s invite was the beginning of a place of worship in her house. She was a wealthy businesswoman. She used her wealth for the service of God because she had been transformed by the power of the word of God.
May all wealthy mothers be like Lydia to spend and be spent for the Lord whose words transforms!
Weekend prayer: Lord open my heart daily to respond to your word and be led to concrete actions of love. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.