But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
Titus 3:4-5a
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
Les Misérables is one of the most popular musicals ever written. It has played in over 50 countries and has been seen by more than 130 million people. It is the longest-running West End musical in London’s theater district, having run continuously since it began playing to audiences in 1985. The musical is based on an epic novel by Victor Hugo and follows the life of its main protagonist, Jean Valjean.
Early in the story, Valjean is imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread because he was hungry. After his release, he continues to struggle to provide for his needs. A kindly bishop offers him food and shelter, but in the night, Valjean steals articles of silver from the church and runs off with them into the night. He is captured and taken to the bishop to confess his crime, but the bishop says that the silver was a gift, so Valjean is not sent back to prison. This kindness is life-changing for Valjean, and taking the silver he has been given, he resolves to live a new, moral life, which he does, rescuing a young girl from poverty, becoming her father through adoption, and providing for her needs.
The theme of redemption we see in Les Misérables is descriptive of our own story with God. Jesus, our great high priest, has extended his kindness to us. He has given us the costly gift of grace, which has delivered us from the penalty of our sin and set us free to live lives worthy of his gift. The kindness he has given is enduring. As the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:10, Jesus has inaugurated a New Covenant, “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” All the sin we have ever committed or will ever commit has been covered through Christ’s atoning work for us. In Christ, we are a new creation, we have been set free from the power of sin and death, and we have been adopted into the very family of God.
For Reflection
How are we going to respond to God’s kindness to us in Jesus? Will we use the gift of life we have been given to extend grace, kindness, and goodness to others – even people who don’t deserve it (as was true of us), or not?
Is there anyone whom you sense God putting on your heart to extend grace and kindness to this week?
Prayer
Almighty God, the Author and Giver of life, thank you for the new life that you have given to us in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. May we never take your costly grace for granted. Help us today and every day to consider how you are calling us to extend grace and kindness to our neighbor, whoever that may be. Amen.
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Devotionals