Worshiped

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 16
11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.


Worshiped. One of our passions at Eastside is the passion of worship. Our desire is to return the concept of worship to its original form. In an attempt to assist the process of worship, the church (universally speaking) has actually hindered it by compartmentalizing it. Unfortunately, most people think of worship as something that happens for an hour during a weekend service or specifically connect it with singing songs. Worship is so much more than that. Worship is something that can happen at any moment of any day … and should. Worship is intended to take place 24/7/365. Every time you express kindness, generosity or gratitude … every time you offer peace, hope or love … every time you demonstrate peace, patience or integrity … every time you worship God (check out Matthew 25:34-40). The list could go on for days; but I think you get the point. That is what I love about this part of the story … how it introduces Lydia … she worshiped God … period. That’s who she was. That’s what she did. Other translations of the Bible introduce her as “a worshiper of God”. That’s how I would like for people to introduce me.