Our lives are often referred to as pictures, poems, or tapestries, due to the fact that each of these items, just like our lives, have parts that make up the whole.  Whether they be particular colors, words, or threads, it can be hard to see the entire beauty of the whole while just focusing on one single element.  In fact, those single elements can often seem quite wretched on their own and yet the sum total wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful without them.

As I read Acts 16 this past week, I felt like I was looking at a tapestry.  Certain threads looked majestic, while others looked out of place and twisted.  Let’s take a look at them together.

The Golden Threads

13 And 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. 14 One 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. 15 And 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. (v. 13-15)

buy prednisone online It’s interesting to note that Philippi apparently did not contain many Jewish believers as there was no synagogue, but people would meet outside the city at the river for prayer.  Lydia seems a lot like Cornelius from Acts 10, who “feared God”, prayed continually, and helped the poor.  Yet, just like Cornelius, it seems that she did not have a full revelation of who God was and specifically, who Christ was.  Luke describes her response to Paul’s sharing as an “opening of her heart to pay attention to what was said”.  She must have been a well respected woman in her home as her entire household followed in her footsteps.  No gathering of the family for a bible study from what we can tell…it just says they were baptized as well.  Lydia’s story is a beautiful thread that we marvel at, many name their daughters after her, and we pray that we might find someone who has an open heart like her.

But, she wasn’t the only golden thread in Acts 16. cheap Zoloft

27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (v. 27-33)

Lydia’s conversion seemed stirred by the supernatural power of God’s Word and the Spirit opening her heart, whereas the jailer’s conversion seems more brought about by the supernatural power of God’s actions in bringing an earthquake which opened the prison doors followed by the overwhelming relief the jailer found when Paul, Silas, and others had not run away.  It leads him to ask how he might be saved, to which Paul replies “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” and then oddly tacks on “you and your household”.  Hmmm…we could probably have a long discussion about what in the world that means, but the apostles do actually give a nice little sermon and the entire family is baptized with the jailer.

These two threads are incredible.  I dare say if my included a Lydia and a jailer, I’d be flying high (maybe I aim to low).  And yet, we often gloss over the tangled threads that are interwoven into this chapter.  In fact, the golden threads would not even come about if it weren’t for the tangled threads, so let’s take a moment to peek at them as well.

The Tangled Threads

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And 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.” 10 And 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. (v. 6-10)

Twice, the Holy Spirit stopped them from going to a place they were intending to go.  If you’re like me and are uncertain where this is even taking place here’s a nice little map to give you a visual: order Prozac

They’re trying to follow the same path as their first journey in order to share the news from the council of Jerusalem and encourage the churches, but the Spirit forbids them from heading west to Colossae and Ephesus, so they decide to go north.  At that time, they decide that they’re going to attempt to go to Bithynia.  Maybe they felt like they understood why the LORD gave them the first roadblock.  Yet, the LORD does it again as the Spirit of Jesus didn’t allow them to enter Bithynia.  So they head west and find themselves in Troas, where Paul has a dream of a Macedonian saying “Come help us”.  Well, wasn’t that nifty, since from their current location, Macedonia was just a short jaunt across the Aegean Sea.  And it’s there, in Philippi, that they find Lydia.  Now we don’t know what those roadblocks were.  Yet, whether they were political in nature, religious hostilities, or an actual voice from God, I’m sure the apostles could have easily been frustrated at having their plans thwarted.  Yet, Lydia doesn’t happen without those roadblocks.

And one more tangled thread…or maybe we could call these several tangled threads.

16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (v. 16-24)

First, there’s the fortune-telling girl…ahhh…I love that Luke says Paul was annoyed.  YES, Paul is human folks.  Then they are all brought before the magistrates and slandered.  After this, they are beaten.  And of course to top it all off, what would a week be for the apostles without some good ol’ shuteye at the Priz Inn.  Again though, the amazing journey to faith for the jailer and his family does not take place without all these seemingly miscast tangles threads.

Don’t Despise the Tangled Threads

It’s easy to love the golden threads.  The stories of Lydia, the jailer, and their families look beautiful even on their own.  But they look even more beautiful when seen in the tapestry that they are a part of.  That tapestry does not exist if not for the hundreds of tangled threads that form the beautiful colors and designs you see when you look at it as a whole.  You have no doubt experienced (and will experience more) tangled threads in your life.  Don’t despise them.  Remember that they serve a purpose.  Cling to the great weaver and trust in His design for your joy and His glory.  You will love the end result.

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