Acts in 28 DaysSample

Acts 16: 1 - 5 & 11 - 15

Have you ever met someone who was so passionate about something that they would not stop talking about it? Do you know someone who is so passionate about his football club that it comes up in almost every conversation you have? Those people can talk about their passions for a really long time and can share how their team played over the weekend, what new players they have signed, what a great save their goalie made a few games ago, and on and on.

Throughout the whole book of Acts we see different people who are so passionate about Jesus that it just overflows out of their daily lives. Think about Peter, Stephen, Paul, Barnabas... the list goes on!

In the first few verses of chapter 16, we read that Paul meets a young man named Timothy and takes him along on his journey. We don’t get a lot of details on their first encounter, but apparently Timothy accepts the invitation and joins Paul. Later in the same chapter we read about a woman named Lydia who also has an encounter with Paul and accepts his message about Jesus. Wherever Paul goes, the gospel just pours out of him, and lives get changed.

The amazing thing is that both Timothy and Lydia also start sharing what they’ve received. Lydia shares with her whole household. They all get baptised, and she immediately opens her home to the Apostles. We know that Timothy later becomes the pastor of the Church in Ephesus, the second most important city in the empire.

Imagine if Paul hadn’t taken on Timothy as his disciple or hadn’t shared with Lydia. What would have happened then? Obviously, we can only speculate about that, however, it is helpful to think about when reflecting on our own lives. How much do we share about our faith with others? Not all of us will be great at street evangelism or preaching, and that is ok. But shouldn’t our faith, in some way or form, pour out of us? Shouldn’t it have an impact on the people we meet? You never know what kind of effect your sharing might have.

One final thought: In verse 14, we read that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message. There are three people actively at work in this verse; Jesus, who opens Lydia’s heart; Paul, who shares the message; and ultimately Lydia, who chooses what to do with that message. In any interaction, we have a role and Christ has a role, as well as the person we are talking to. Let that encourage you not to keep the faith to yourself but to actively look out for people you can disciple and impact..

GO DEEP

As followers of Jesus, we have a great responsibility to share our faith in some shape or form, however, we are not solely responsible for how people react to it. Reflect on how you came to faith. Who were some of the people who shared with you? How did Jesus open your heart? And what made you respond the way you did?

BE BOLD

Ask Jesus if there are people in your direct environment who you can influence with the Good News. Think of ways that you might do this and pray that Jesus himself will open their hearts, so that they can be included in God’s family.

MEMORISE IT

“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” - Acts 16:14b