“Relationship with God and Each Other”

Acts 16:9–15 ⁹ A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

          God is calling and some of you hear him and some of you are not listening.  Whether we listen to God or not we all have a relationship with Him.  For some it might be a close relationship, and for others it might be a passing relationship like on a Sunday morning when He has called one to worship but they decide to busy themselves with other things.  Certainly we have vacations and times to visit our loved ones, that is, family and friends, but that is not what we are talking about here. 

          We say our world has changed and has now put God as their last priority.  Actually the world has stayed the same; however it is the Christian who has changed.  Where the world has always put God as a last priority, Christians more and more are now putting God as their last priority too.  It’s as if we have told God our creator and savior that our relationship with Him does not matter anymore.  And, for some they actually tell God they can go it alone.  Then there are those who claim they can redesign God to fit their personal desires too.

          What is your relationship with God?  As I would hope that you would have a personal relationship with God, I have to ask is that your only relationship with God?  The scriptures talk about gathering in His name, (Matthew 18:20) the community of believers, (Acts 2:42-44).  God builds us together to dwell in all of us, (Ephesians 2:22, Note: the “you” is plural as per the Greek translation).  And, when we come together and work together then God makes all that we do, “good,” (Romans 8:28). 

          We should have a personal relationship with God, but more importantly through scripture we should have a community relationship with God also.  This is the relationship that Paul and all who helped Paul including Luke who wrote the book of Acts and Lydia whom Luke wrote about in this passage.

          Acts 16:12b–13 ^12b We remained in this city some days. ¹³And 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.

          Paul was going to Macedonia to answer a cry for help through a vision Paul had.  Sometimes we might think God has called us for one thing when in fact He has called us to accomplish another.  Here Paul and his band of helpers are thinking they might be going to Macedonia to help a man in need.  When they arrived at Macedonia and had stayed for some time they found themselves not finding one who needed help but rather they end up looking for a place of prayer. 

Once they found this place they discovered that a group of women had gathered in God’s name to pray together (Matthew 18:20).  This is a community relationship brought together by God.  This did not appear like someone in need of help, though it was an opportunity to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Where then is the help needed that Paul had heard in his vision?

Acts 16:14–15 ¹⁴One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

          The help comes in the form of baptism of Lydia.  Yes she believed in God, but now after listening to what Paul had said about the gospel Lydia now had a deeper relationship with God the Son our Lord and Savior.  Lydia now heard the witness of Christ’s sojourn to the cross.  Lydia hears of this journey by Christ for the purpose of the salvation of God’s people throughout the world both Jew and Gentile.  This was no ordinary salvation where the savior does not die in the battle, but one where the savior does die; He dies for our sin, and then is resurrected to eternal life.  Then Lydia is baptized, cleansed of her sin, and receives assurance of her own salvation with the rest of the community of believers.

          Jesus Christ wants to have a relationship with you, and not just personal but also in community.  After all in the Apostles Creed it speaks of the “Holy Christian Church,” being the Community of Saints.  So through Christ’s death and resurrection we can all count on an eternal life and relationship with God and each other.  Amen.

Written by: Pastor Curtis A. May

Let us go forth in the Peace of our Lord and Serve the Lord who loved us first.