Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25
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
On a recent summer vacation, I had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Spain, with my family. A short drive outside of the city is the mountaintop monastery known as Santa Maria de Montserrat. It is the place where St. Ignatius of Loyola laid down his sword and military career and chose to lead the monastic life. Immediately above the main entrance to the basilica is a series of 13 statues. The central statue depicts Jesus holding his cross, and on either side of him are the twelve apostles (Judas having been replaced by Matthais). As I looked at the statues, what struck me most was the objects they were carrying.
Peter, standing on Jesus’ right hand carries keys (the keys of the kingdom of heaven described in Matthew 16:19) and an upside down cross. Andrew holds an “X” shaped cross, James carries a sword, Thomas is holding a spear, Bartholomew a flaying knife, Simon the Zealot bears a saw, Jude (Thaddeus) is holding a club, and Matthew carries an axe. Not all the apostles were martyred, but there are direct biblical references to at least two being martyred and there extra biblical sources which indicate that several more were as well. The apostles are carrying the implements which were used by those who were persecuting them to take their lives.
This month we are shifting in our examination of the fruit of the Spirit to the quality of faithfulness. A literal rendering of the word faithful is to exhibit the virtue of being full of faith. The Bible describes faith as, “…confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) To live with full confidence in what we hope for and have assurance about the thing we hope for but do not yet see is a profound, life-changing gift from God. It can be manifest in our relationships, in our vocations, our understanding of the future, and in our reason for being.
Jesus called the disciples to follow him, and it changed their lives. They went from being fishermen and tax collectors to teachers, preachers, and evangelists. After encountering the risen Christ, they went from hiding in an upper room with a locked door, to boldly proclaiming Jesus as the Christ. They knew it could lead to their deaths, but they now had such a powerful assurance of the promise of Christ, that he had gone to prepare a place for them and would come again and take them to himself, that their confidence in Christ was greater than their fear of death. They lived out the rest of their days faithfully bearing witness to Jesus the Christ, and they changed the world. Like Paul, they fought the good fight, they finished the race, they kept the faith. They were faithful… not perfect, but faithful.
For Reflection
The disciples were not perfect people. They had fears and doubts as we do, but the perfect love of God cast out their fears. They encountered Jesus in such a powerful way it allowed them to live lives of faithfulness even though they still had lessons to learn and room for growth.
Take some time to share with God any areas of personal struggle in your life. Ask God to reveal his love and faithfulness to you in such a way that your doubts and fears may be overcome and you would grow in faithfulness to walking with him and living in a way that pleases him.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you that even when we are faithless, you are faithful. We remember that all the disciples at some point either betrayed, fled, or denied you. We confess that at times our faith and faithfulness are lacking. Forgive us, we pray, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, give us a fresh revelation of your goodness and faithfulness, that we may be faithful as you are faithful. It’s in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray. Amen.
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Devotionals