Wildflowers: Lydia the AsterSýnishorn

Spreading the Gospel

Asters are hardy plants that grow one to six feet tall and one to four feet wide. They eventually grow into more of a bush than a flower with hairy leaves and flowers similar to daisies. Some plants grow so tall that horticulturists suggest providing a stake or cage to keep them from falling over in the fall. Just like the towering aster, Lydia's roots ran deep and wide. Her faith took off like a weed reaching her family, friends, and the community.

Faith multiples when it goes public, and that's exactly what Lydia's did. As a well-known businesswoman, she had to know that her public baptism would cause a stir in Philippi. Yet she did not shrink back in fear that her business would suffer because of her profession of faith. Rather, she served as an example for others who saw her business grow under God's blessing. As her business flourished, she probably used much of her profit to further the gospel.

Lydia, the aster, was the first to be baptized in the waters of Europe, and immediately her entire household followed. Before this revival, there were not enough men in the community to sustain a synagogue as it required ten men. That's why the women met at the river, as it provided water for Jewish ceremonial rituals. Now, instead of a synagogue, we see a church spring from the wells of salvation, and likely it began in Lydia's home where she begged the apostle and his friends to not only visit but stay. Women, don't forget to open both your heart and your home to the gospel. Lydia's faith was persuasive.

Evidence of Lydia's sincere faith was manifest almost immediately through the Holy Spirit's gift of hospitality. She wanted all that she had to advance the gospel. Many commentators believe that Lydia was a widow since no husband was mentioned. Paul wrote to Timothy about the qualities to look for in godly widows: "No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds" (1 Timothy 5:9-10, NIV). If you are a widow, God has plans for you and the church needs you. Hospitality and good works are the nectar of kindness to passersby, and like the thistle, butterflies love to enjoy the nourishment found in an aster.

Read the verse below and answer the following questions:

"And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' So she persuaded us" (Acts 16:15).

Practical Observation

1. Who did Lydia tell about her experience?

Household is a word that meant more to the ancients than it does to the modern ear. People in the Middle East lived together often in multigenerational families. Household included slaves, concubines, and servants. At the end of Acts 16, Paul brought salvation to the Philippian jailer's entire household. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household" (Acts 16:31, NIV).

2. Describe how these people responded.

Baptism is an outward expression of the inward change of salvation. In it we see our past sins buried beneath the water and then we rise up cleansed to new life. Both Jews and Christians included this ritual in their religion. Jesus declared it essential when He said, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16, NIV).

3. What did Lydia request of Paul and his partners? How did she make this request?

4. What evaluation did she request of her guests?

5. How did Paul and his company respond?

Personal Application

a. List the members of your family with whom you've shared the gospel. Write how each responded next to their names.

b. Describe a time you invited someone to your home to influence your family with the gospel. If you have not, journal about who you could invite and when.

c. Do you think your pastor would consider you faithful to the Lord like Lydia? Why or why not?

Faithful describes someone who is dependable, loyal, and stable in their relationship to God and as a result to others. Jesus said the two greatest commands were to love God and to love others as ourselves. If you do these two things, they add up to fulfilling all the other laws.