10th October 2025

A Heart is Opened

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 16:14

Today's Bible Reading: Acts 16:11-24.

In Acts 16, after preaching the Gospel, the disciples expected God to do something! That, by the way, is missing in many churches today. Many have given up expecting God to do anything after the preaching of the Gospel. But here in our reading, the believers clearly did expect God to do something. They just preached the Word, and then they expected God to act.

In Acts 16, we find one of the ways the Lord frequently acts: In advance, He had prepared the hearts of men and women ready to respond to the Gospel. One of these was a woman called Lydia, who was already “a worshipper of God” (v 14). She was a businesswoman who sold purple goods, who handled the purple dye for cloth, which was so valuable in those days. She made a good living (v 14). She had her own home, and it was large enough to accommodate Paul and his party. Her heart was ready, having been prepared by God, and she was led of God to be there that day to hear the preaching.

For me, that is the first principles of preaching. I never step into any pulpit believing that everyone in the congregation is saved. Thus, I preach to edify the believer and challenge the unbeliever; And to do that, I am always very careful to make sure that the way of salvation is made clear.

This is what happened here, in Acts 16. Lydia was there, and she did not get upset by the message. She did not view it as a challenge to her Jewish faith, but immediately recognised that it was the fulfilment of all her Jewish hopes. So she opened her heart and received the Lord.

I wonder, do you expect great things to happen in your church after the preaching of God's Word?

Prayer: Lord God, use me, to reach those who are seeking after You. Use my ears, that I may hear the cry for help for those in need. Use my eyes to see and help those suffering injustices. Use me as You will. In the name of Your Son, I pray. Amen.