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Living for What Really Matters
PHILIPPIANS
WEEK 1
PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11
DAY 1
Read
Acts 9
I used to write out exactly what I was going to say when I broke up with some. One time in college,
I wrote and rewrote my break-up monologue for an entire week straight. I penned it down during
every class, every study break, and any other time I had a few minutes to myself. I had a really
hard time telling people what needed to be said.
Our buddy Paul, though? Not so much.
In the book of Philippians, Paul has some hard conversations with the church in Philippi. He
says what needs to be said, encourages what needs encouragement, and corrects what need
correcting. Paul doesn’t sugarcoat anything.
My husband is this way. Maybe that’s why I like Paul so much. After years of living with
someone who gives it to me straight, I understand the importance of real, authentic conversation.
Sometimes these kinds of conversations are empowering. Sometimes they’re not super fun. But
since Ben’s words are coming from a place of love, I know they’re not meant to harm. We meet
in authenticity to help each other grow. Sweeping things under the rug isn’t beneficial or healthy.
If we want to be bold, dynamic women of God, we need to be willing to fight for authenticity.
We have one life to live. One shot to make a mark on this earth in the name of Jesus Christ. And
with Paul as our teacher, we’ll learn how to do that with authenticity and unity.
But if we’re going to learn from Paul, we’re going to need to first understand a bit more about
who this man is. Now, I do realize you may know Paul’s backstory already, but as we walk through
it again, God may point something out to you that somehow reflects and refracts differently today.
God likes to highlights things at certain times as He wants you to know, learn, and grow.
In Acts, we learn that Saul (Paul’s original name) hated those who believed that Jesus was the
Messiah. If we look at Philippians 3:5, we can get a sense as to why he felt this way: not only was
he from a Jewish family, but he was a devout and legalistic Pharisee. This new faith seemed like
heresy to him.
What does Acts 9:1-2 say about Saul?
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Saul’s conversion is incredible. God intervenes in a dramatic and supernatural way—and He
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