September 10
Bible Reading: Acts 16:11-15
Acts 16:13, “And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.”
I recall a particularly memorable moment with Pastor Bob Emrich during one of our Bible conferences in Uganda. After the conference, a pastor approached us, overflowing with gratitude. He thanked us profusely for the Bible teaching, sharing that he and his friends had long been praying for help due to their severe lack of Bible training. They had earnestly sought God’s help, and when we arrived from far away across the oceans, they saw our visit as the answer to their prayers. His heartfelt appreciation for God’s provision was deeply moving.
This experience parallels the account in our Scripture passage. A group of women was gathered at a riverside place of prayer, having yet to hear the gospel as it had not reached their region. Among them was Lydia, a “worshiper of God.” They were praying as yet unaware that God was already at work, sending Paul their way. One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 3:20, which said, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think.” Say a prayer, think a thought, God’s ability to do exceeds our ability to imagine. Such was the case for these women; no matter how earnest their prayers, they could not have anticipated the answer that would bring to them through the gospel the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Paul shared the gospel, and the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond.
Jesus declared, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18), and this passage shows one way He has been fulfilling that promise since the church’s inception. Led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Paul and his companions were divinely directed to preach the gospel in this place. The church in Philippi emerged from that pivotal moment, and believers there no doubt fondly remember God’s work: “Remember how God guided the Apostle Paul to us; remember how he met Lydia at the place of prayer and how she and others then embraced the gospel!”
Prayer and the working of the Spirit are integral to this process. Just as these women prayed and God responded by bringing the message and opening their hearts, someone likely prayed for you before your salvation. Today, there are individuals in your life who could benefit from your prayers that God might open their hearts to the good news of Jesus. Pray for them!
“God’s answer is always larger than our petition.”—A. B. Simpson
SEND THE LIGHT
There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!
Refrain:
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, and let its radiant beams
Light the world forevermore!
We have heard the Macedonian call today,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light! Send the light!
Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,
Send the light! Send the light!
Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!
LookingtoJesus 