Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: November 22

“One woman, named Lydia, a purple-seller from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened Her heart to pay attention to Paul’s messages. So, when she and her family had been baptized, she begged us, “If you consider me faithful to the Lord, come to my home and stay with us.” And she just made us come” ~ Acts 16:14-15, Berkeley

Lydia was the first convert in Europe. And those who converted today are still reacting much as Lydia did. Lydia already worshiped God. The new life comes only when we begin to see that love, as it is made plain in Christ is not “what God can do for us?” but, “what I can do for God?” It is in His life poured out on the Cross that we see the transforming love that cannot stop giving. The love that lifts and does not expect to be thanked. The love that gives more when it is receiving. The love of God.

Many believe in God as a “higher power.” But only as we are “converted to Him in Christ, can this love be “shed abroad in our hearts.” We don’t even suspect that there is love like this until our hearts are opened, as was Lydia’s, to pay attention” to the heart of the Cross. This changes us. It turns us from laggers to lifters. All new Christians are not immediately lifters. All do not begin at once as Lydia, to give. Some of us will go to any lengths to remain “problems” in order ot retain the attention of those who care!

This is not a pretty thing to admit. But it is well to admit it. And to be aware that in most cases, when someone “just can’t get the victory” it may be because that person still does not want to lose the limelight. Lifters often work in the background. The attention is never on the counselor. Always on the one in “need” of counseling. How shameful to force others to keep on feeding us, when Jesus commands:

“Feed my sheep … Feed my lambs … Follow me.”