Message

season 05 | “rejection is redirection”

We’re taking a short break from our study of Colossians as we navigate this unique and challenging moment in the life of our church. Displaced and still searching for our next home, it would be easy to let discouragement and disappointment steal our hope. This week we’re reminded of a story from the book of Acts featuring Paul and a woman named Lydia that inspires us to keep trusting, believing that every rejection is a redirection.

Scripture

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we preciously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” – Acts 15:36 NLT

 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.  So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.– Acts 16:6-8, NLT

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. – Acts 16:9-10 NLT

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.  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.  She and her household were baptized, 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. – Acts 16:13-15, NLT

resources

NLT Study Bible