Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2 Samuel 9:1
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
I am so excited for our daughter to be born later this summer. As my wife and I prepare to become parents, I find myself thinking a lot about what it means to raise a child. One thing that has struck me is how naturally children engage with the people around them. They will often wave to a stranger, smile at someone sitting alone, or ask questions that adults might avoid. Children have a way of seeing people before they see categories.
As adults, we often do the opposite. We become busy, distracted, and selective with our attention. We tend to move toward people who are familiar, comfortable, or useful to us. But biblical kindness pushes against those instincts.
In 2 Samuel 9, David asks a surprising question: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?” Saul had been David’s enemy. Most kings in David’s position would have viewed Saul’s descendants as threats. Yet David actively looks for someone to bless. That is what makes kindness so powerful. It doesn’t simply respond when opportunities appear. It moves toward people intentionally.
When David learns about Mephibosheth, he doesn’t wait for Mephibosheth to come to him. He seeks him out. He goes looking for the forgotten man living in Lo Debar, a place whose name means “no pasture.” David’s kindness crosses barriers of history, fear, and social status.
This reflects the heart of God. Throughout Scripture, God is the One who moves toward people. He moved toward Adam and Eve after they sinned. He moved toward Israel when they wandered. Most importantly, he moved toward us in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Before we ever sought him, God sought us. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect that same kind of kindness. Not just kindness that is convenient, but kindness that takes initiative…kindness that notices the lonely coworker, the new neighbor, the struggling friend, or the person who seems forgotten. Kindness often begins with a simple question: Who is God inviting me to move toward today?
For Reflection
- Who in your life may be feeling overlooked or forgotten?
- What is one practical way you can move toward that person this week?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for pursuing me with Your kindness. Open my eyes to see people the way You do. Help me move toward others with compassion, generosity, and love. Make me an instrument of Your kindness today. Amen.
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Devotionals