How Lydia Claimed Her Spiritual Inheritance

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Part 3

In a series of posts, we’ve been looking at how we can value our inheritance in Christ above the temporary accolades, accomplishments, activities and earthly values that tear down our confidence in God’s unconditional love for us. You can read the previous posts here:

Post #1 I began sharing how mononucleosis reminded me to find my value in Christ.

Post #2 In this second post in the series, I featured Esau’s disregard for the value of his birthright–his spiritual inheritance.

Post #4 This post emphasizes who we are in Christ by examining the truths of Ephesians 1.

In contrast, Lydia is a woman described in Acts 16 who was willing to acknowledge her need of a spiritual inheritance. Like my last post, let’s use our sanctified imagination to think of Lydia’s story of salvation. Perhaps it happened like this.

Lydia arrived at the river side and greeted the other women. They were a varied lot from different backgrounds, but their desire to seek God was their common bond. Because Philippi didn’t have the required ten men to establish a synagogue, the women met on the Sabbath day for prayer by the river, a common location for worship. As each of the women seated herself on her favorite rock, Lydia thoughtfully reflected on her journey toward God. She was a Gentile who recognized Jehovah as the true God. Yet there was still something unsettled in her soul. Lydia was the most successful of the women there and yet her success did not satisfy her. She thought it would.

(Remember, we’re imagining what might have happened). Lydia could remember telling her sister many years before, “Just wait until my business really takes off, then I’ll be successful and happy. I’m going to be just like Sonya. Remember her?”

Her sister nodded, remembering their mother’s successful friend who was a seller of purple cloth. She had a head for business and a strong personality. She was respected and clever, never letting anyone trick her out of anything.

“But Lydia,” her sister replied, “Sonia never seemed happy to me. Do you really want to be like her?”

“I’m going to have the rich part and also be happy. Just you wait.”

Yet now Lydia had more money than Sonia ever had and she still wasn’t happy. It bothered her that her little sister had been so insightful. She just didn’t think it would turn out like this. Yet she could see God’s hand. Her lack of satisfaction with her success had driven her to seek Jehovah. But she still felt she was missing something and that bothered her.

As the women began their silent prayers, they were suddenly interrupted by three men who approached their small group. At first, Lydia’s heart leapt with joy. Maybe they could establish a synagogue soon. But then she realized there weren’t enough of them. Oh well, at least it’s a start.

The men introduced themselves as Paul, Luke, and Silas. Paul, who seemed to be the leader, addressed the women, asking them questions about the area and the beliefs of the local Jews. After some conversation, Paul explained that they represented a new group of the Jews called “The Way.”

At first when this funny looking man began talking about someone named Jesus, calling Him the Messiah, Lydia felt suspicious.

If the Messiah has actually come, why haven’t we heard about it? Her business sense warned her these men might be looking for money. She knew she should be cautious, but as the men spoke of this man as “the Son of God” who had performed miracles, and how he died and then was raised again from the dead, she felt her heart pounding with anticipation.

Now, don’t get carried away, Lydia, her sensible mind warned. But the more she heard, the more she saw the significance. She was hungry for more and could tell the other women were also. For once she was hearing of a proposition that was too good to be true but was indeed true. And she realized in that moment that if asked, she would away all of her wealth in order to have this amazing gift of abundant and eternal life, along with knowing God’s unconditional love.

Before she knew it, she confessed out loud, “You have persuaded me. I do believe this man, Jesus, is the Son of God and died for my sins on the cross. What must I do to be saved?”

Within minutes, Lydia and several of the women entered the river and Paul baptized them. Lydia’s heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude. No longer did she feel that dissatisfaction and emptiness. She didn’t care whether she was rich or poor. She belonged to God, and Paul explained that she was now a new creature in Christ. She wanted to know more.

“Come to my house and stay,” she urged them.

“But there are three of us. Do you have room?” Paul inquired.

She laughed. “Oh, yes, my house is very large. The servants will be glad to get your rooms ready. It’s the least I can do for the spiritual life and peace you have showed me. I know for sure that all I’ve accomplished is nothing compared to the joy of knowing God through His Son Jesus. And besides, I want my children and servants to hear about this Jesus.”

So the group gathered their belongings and walked to Lydia’s house.

In the next post, we’ll examine more closely what it means to live in the joy of our inheritance in Christ. And I’ll close with a story that will bless your socks off.