Wildflowers: Lydia the AsterSample

Speaking by the River

The aster novi-belgii native to the United States are often seen growing in moist marsh-like conditions implying that a water source is nearby. Have you noticed the great significance water played throughout this text? Paul sailed across many bodies of water to arrive in Philippi. Likewise, his first worship experience was near a river. It was the most likely place to meet Lydia since Philippi was known by its surrounding marshlands.

Lydia sold purple cloth, which perfectly showcases our aster since the flower comes in a variety of purples, from lavender to deep purple. Did you know that purple and water were closely related during this time period? Purple was the most precious and costly color of ancient dyes because it was derived from a shellfish found in the Mediterranean Sea. It took 250,000 of these mollusks to make just one ounce of dye, which explains the high price for cloth drenched in this royal color.

Thyatira, the city Lydia hailed from before moving to Philippi, was known for its many artist guilds and one of these included dyers. The water in this region was famous for dyeing, and the unique color purple produced there was renowned worldwide. As a seller of purple, Lydia was likely wealthy, artistic, and a keen businesswoman. She was an independent woman who attained a great reputation because of her prosperous business. No doubt she had a spacious home, many employees at the mill, and several servants to attend to her personal needs. Isn't it encouraging that working women graced the pages of Scripture? Many of them helped advance the spreading of the gospel.

We are not given any information on her background while she lived in Thyatira. However, archeologists suggest it was a metropolitan city since the writings on monuments found there included inscriptions in multiple languages. Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, was the main god worshiped there. We don't know if Lydia was Jewish, but we do know that she "worshiped God" (Acts 16:14). Perhaps she was a proselyte. We do know that she was ripe for the gospel, and a bit of watering of the Word from Paul would make this lady blossom to her full potential.

Read the verses below and answer the following questions:

"And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:13-14).

Practical Observation

1. Where did Paul journey on the Sabbath day and why?

Riversides were often places of worship for Jewish believers when their community did not meet the requirements for a synagogue. Synagogue comes from the Hebrew word knesset, which means house of assembly. They provided a place for prayer and the reading of the Torah.

2. What group of people did they meet, and what did they do?

3. Who is named in this text? What was her occupation?

Worship is much more than singing praises on Sunday morning. It carries the idea of an unabandoned devotion to God shown through reverential actions. It comes from an Old English word focusing on the worthiness of the one being honored. The Hebrews believed God should be worshiped with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength.

4. Where did the woman come from originally? What indicates she was religious?

5. Describe her response to Paul's preaching.

Open heart describes the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides. It often refers to some aspect of the human personality. Conversion work is a work of the heart. "For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with our mouth that you are saved" (Romans 10:10, NLT).

Personal Application

a. Where and how do you celebrate the Sabbath?

Prayer must be part of our worship. Simply put, it is us talking to God. The many forms of prayer include personal request, intercession for the lost, thanksgiving, and repentance. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6, NIV).

b. Who are the people you fellowship with? Why are they important in your life?

 Partners are vital in the Christian life. The Bible talks about the power of we, exalting the concept of two or more collaborating in the work of the gospel. Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, as there is safety in numbers. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

c. Describe a time God opened your heart and how you responded.