“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14).
There is no greater miracle than the conversion of a person who believes in Jesus. It is a miracle of creation. Our old nature is transformed into a new nature, and we become new creations. The opening of blind eyes physically is an amazing miracle. The resurrection of a person spiritually, when he or she is converted, is also a miracle that can only be accomplished by God. As the father of the prodigal son said to the older brother when the wayward son returned home, “This brother of yours was dead and is alive again.”
This verse describes the two essential steps in the miracle of conversion. First, the Lord opened Lydia’s heart. Never overlook the importance of God’s part in the miracle of salvation. For those of us who have received the truth about Jesus we can be forever grateful that God opened our hearts. It is possible to read Scripture and not be changed. Sadly, many people do that. When we read God’s Word and believe it is only because God has opened our hearts to receive it.
The second part of the miracle of conversion is our part. Lydia responded. When we read God’s Word and He opens our hearts something happens. God opens our hearts and we feel the urge to respond. Some resist that urge. God gives us the freedom to do that. Others do what Lydia did—they respond. Literally, she held to herself what Paul said.
God’s Word that brings salvation is faithfully distributed to everyone. God graciously opens our hearts. In an act of faith, we grab that word and apply it to ourselves. The result is our salvation. We can thank God that He opened our hearts to receive the message of salvation and that we responded in faith by saying, “That’s for me.” What a miracle of grace that is!
