Becoming a Christian isn't about family heritage, church attendance, or good deeds—it's about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Romans 10 outlines the pathway to salvation: we must call on the name of the Lord, which requires first believing in Him. To believe, we must hear the gospel message, which means someone must share it with us. Every Christian is both saved through this process and sent to continue it by sharing the good news with others. True Christianity involves acknowledging our sin, believing in Jesus's death and resurrection, confessing Him as Lord, and committing to follow Him daily.
Lydia's journey from a successful businesswoman who believed in God to a devoted follower of Christ demonstrates the profound difference between merely acknowledging God's existence and surrendering to Jesus as Lord. When Paul shared the gospel with her in Philippi, the Lord opened her heart to respond. This transformation affected not just Lydia but her entire household, who were all baptized. Her home became the first church in Philippi, and her generous hospitality set the tone for what would become one of the most generous churches in the early Christian movement. Lydia's story challenges us to examine whether we've made the crucial 18-inch journey from head to heart in our relationship with Jesus.
