Make a Difference - Impact your Circle

Interestingly Paul's first known convert was a woman, named Lydia (Acts 16:14). Kind of takes your mind back to Jesus empowering Mary Magdalene as the first evangelist. Lydia was a business woman in purple cloth, the most expensive type in the 1st century Middle East

Paul’s encounter with Lydia and her women associates ultimately opened the way for ministry in that region. God often worked in and through women in the early church. Lydia was an influential businesswoman, and the gospel was affecting all strata of society, just as it does today.

Royal families and Roman senators who were required to have a purple band around the edge of their togas, or robes were among Lydia's customers. Purple cloth was both valuable and expensive and was often worn as a sign of nobility or royalty. Lydia's ministry would be to the cream of the society.

Lydia's heart was like the good soil in the parable of the sower. When she heard the word of God, she received it with joy and obeyed the words of the apostle.

Who are the "Lydias" God has placed in your circle of influence? Pray that you will be the instrument, like Paul, to bring the gospel to influential men and women entrepreneurs.