A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Note: IOW Tuesday post below.

Welcome to to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD). We are reading through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs this year and sharing what spoke to us on Tuesday's.

For all that I read for this plan this week click here. (I'm also reading in the OT, too. I'm fixing to start Genesis 45 later today.)

Nugget #1

Paul is the man. Of God! While Paul's crusades are covered in so many books of the New Testament, including Acts, He gives God all the glory for speaking through him. I love that about Paul. His humility is a shining example. For example:

"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas." ~ Acts 16:6-8 (NIV)

See? They were ready to preach the Word in Asia and God said, "Not yet." Instead of going anyway, they passed by and turned around. Oh, to be that aware of the Holy Spirit's promptings, to be that obedient, and to be about God's business wherever He chooses to place me!

Nugget #2

Lydia worshiped God before she made her relationship with Him real and personal.

"On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us." ~ Acts 16:13-15 (NIV)

I grew up worshiping the Lord before I received Christ as my personal Savior. I sang the songs, prayed, read my Bible, went to church, etc. Lydia apparently did, too. Worshiping God isn't enough, though. We must open our hearts to Him and receive His grace and mercy, just as Lydia did, and respond.

The Greek word for open is dianoigō. This verb means:

1) to open by dividing or drawing asunder, to open thoroughly (what had been closed)
a) a male opening the womb (the closed matrix), i.e. the first-born
b) of the eyes and the ears
c) to open the mind of one, i.e. to cause to understand a thing
1) to open one's soul, i.e. to rouse in one the faculty of understanding or the desire of learning

The Lord is the One who opens our hearts to receive Him. He is the one who stirs our soul and opens the eyes and ears to understanding. Our response to this is the response that receiving Him as our Savior.

The Greek word for respond is prosechō. It means:

1) to bring to, bring near
a) to bring a ship to land, and simply to touch at, put in
2) to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive
a) to a person or a thing: of caring for, providing for
3) to attend to one's self, i.e. to give heed to one's self
a) give attention to, take heed
4) to apply one's self to, attach one's self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing
a) to be given or addicted to
b) to devote thought and effort to

We truly take heed and apply, cleaving to Christ as our Savior and Lord. We devote our thoughts and efforts to moving toward accepting His grace and mercy in our lives and thus, move into Christianity. We are redeemed and live as such. We study His Word and are born into eternal life.

I truly enjoyed this reading and pray that you'll join us. Jump on in and share with us TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD). His Word is powerful and I find new truths revealed to me each time I read the Bible.

For more TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD), click the link and visit each participant's blog.

Thank you, DeeDee, for hosting this wonderful meme each week.