Daily Devotions – Lydia’s persuasive hospitality

Daily Devotions – Lydia’s persuasive hospitality

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Acts 16:11-15 (NIV)
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

 

Choose one or two key verses from the Scripture reading in 2 Corinthians today and do at least one of the following for your chosen verse(s).
A –  Ask questions of the text (Who, what, why, where, when)
– Emphasize certain words as you read the text over & over
I  –  In your own words (paraphrase one or more verses)
O  – Other verses in the Bible that say the same or opposite
U  – Use it; apply the truth from the text in your life

 

Thank You, Lord, for my church where I have the freedom to worship and hear your Word and to connect with other people every week. I pray for the many places in this world that cannot worship without fear. But even in those places, people find ways to gather together to learn and pray and grow spiritually together. I pray that your spirit blesses them and keeps them safe. Inspire me to be as bold with my faith as they are. They make worship a priority, help me to do the same. Help me to not leave what I hear in the church building on Sunday but live it at my workplace, through my activities and show your hospitality to others out into the world during the week. Help me to consistently love and serve you in all that I do every day. Amen