At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
Luke 10:21
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Luke 10:25
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:29
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
Sometimes, when we study Scripture, it helps to look just before or just after a passage we’re reading. We might get hints about how to put our passage in context.
Earlier in Luke 10, Jesus has just sent his rag-tag band of disciples out on a practice run of preaching, teaching, and healing. He sends them out two by two and waits to see how they do without him. They are a crazy bunch of former fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and other non-conventional types. It might seem like they wouldn’t all be successful, but they return excited, full of power and joy.
Then Jesus has a private word with God. He thanks God that he has revealed the secrets of the Kingdom of God not to the wise and the intelligent, not to know-it-alls, but to “infants” or innocent newcomers like the disciples.
We see that Jesus favors not the perfect intelligentsia of his day, but those who are obedient, rough around the edges, and ready and willing to go out in his name and get their hands dirty.
And then the next story, is about the lawyer with all the smart questions who’s trying to excuse himself from having to care for “neighbors” he doesn’t like. The lawyer represents the “wise and intelligent” of this world.
What are we learning here? Not that Jesus doesn’t appreciate thinkers. He does. Not that Jesus only likes action and not thought. He does both himself.
What we are learning is that Jesus wants us to be bold to reach out and offer his love and kindness and hope to a hurting world, a world who needs to know that God is full of mercy and kindness for all. What he doesn’t want is for us to shut ourselves away from the world, staying clean and careful.
Someday, we would love to hear Jesus thank God for what we’ve been able to do in his name! God can use exactly the people we are, mistakes and all, to restore the world.
For Reflection
Would you rather be thought of as wise and intelligent or an innocent child? Can Jesus use both kinds of people? What are the pitfalls and the best attributes of those two groups? Where would you put yourself now? How can God use all the experiences of your life to make of you someone who can offer his kindness to a hurting world? Notice that he sent the disciples two by two. Is there someone Jesus has paired you with already?
Prayer
Dear Lord, I know I want to be admired by others, but I don’t always think of what You admire. I don’t always think about the ways my past has made me fit to offer Your good news to others. Lord, help me to see the way you’ve shaped me all my life. Help me connect with the people you intend me to connect with.
Lord, I thank You for all those who have offered Your kindness to me! Help me to be unafraid to offer Your Kindness to those in need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Devotionals