For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
Matthew 25:29
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
One of the hallmarks of the Protestant faith is the belief that we are saved “by faith alone”. It is a way of saying that our works are not how we receive forgiveness of our sins; rather, it is through faith in the saving power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that we find wholeness before the Lord. That simple statement has provided me with more comfort, more joy, and more peace of mind than I can begin to put into words.
Yet there is a flip side to this doctrine which James, the brother of Jesus, offers, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” (James 2:18). The challenge for many of us, especially those of us who grew up in a Protestant church, is that we tend to focus so much on the idea of faith that we lose sight of what that means for us, and that we are called to respond to faith through the good works that we do.
At the heart of the end of this passage is the idea that we have each been blessed beyond our ability to comprehend through the salvation that Jesus has offered to us all, yet for many people that faith is all that we have, and there is never a “so what” that accompanies our blessing. We have each been given much, and in faith, we should seek to share our blessings with those around us, not out of fear that we will become like the servant who hid his master’s gold, but in the knowledge that God desires that we would look outward to share his love and grace with all who we meet.
For Reflection
- What does it mean to you to have faith in God?
- Where have you responded to the Lord’s blessing by sharing his goodness with others?
- What prevents you from being able to respond to faith with works?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your saving love and for the gift of salvation that we cannot earn. Help us to always remember that you have given us more than we can understand and help us to share your love with those around us. Amen.
Published under
Devotionals