Lydia’s baptism in Acts 16:13-15 may intrigue and challenge you.
She was a grown woman in Philippi, probably a convert to Judaism, who customarily met riverside with others each Sabbath to pray and who indeed sincerely worshipped God. One may think in light of this she didn’t need baptism.
However, the apostle Paul thought otherwise. Why? Because you can be deeply religious and still not be in the spiritual place God wants you to be.
The Bible says Lydia was baptised because the Lord opened her heart to heed what Paul had spoken. This begs the question. What did Paul speak that the Lord opened her heart to? We know, because it was Paul’s custom to preach it everywhere, it was the good news her Messiah had come and fulfilled the many prophecies of the ancient scriptures.
Because Jesus had paid the ultimate price for humanity’s sins on the cross and had risen victorious from the grave to set up the kingdom that would never be destroyed, the good news for Lydia and all who truly believe and turn from sin is they’ll spend eternity with God.
God so touched Lydia with this wonderful gospel message she and her whole household were moved to be baptized, a ritual symbolising dying with Christ, being buried with Him and being raised to new LIFE now.
Are you also sincerely religious like Lydia, but not at the spiritual place God wants you to be? May God open your heart as He opened Lydia’s.