Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Acts 2:5-6
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
As the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on Pentecost, they began to speak in the languages of all of those who were gathered together in Jerusalem. For many of us, we’ve read or heard these particular words so often that we lose sight of just what they meant to both the disciples and those who were hearing the words. The Holy Spirit removed all possibility of confusion. Every person present heard the words clearly in their own native tongue, delivered directly by the very people who had lived the experience.
On the Pentecost depicted in the passage, Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims making their journey to the Holy City for one of the three annual pilgrimages. While population estimates vary wildly, we can safely assume there were at least an additional 50,000 people in the city. Fifteen different native languages were represented that day; a diversity that would have made it incredibly easy for the disciples’ proclamation of the Gospel to be misunderstood, were it not for the Spirit’s intercession through the gift of languages. Instead of misunderstanding, the pilgrims were given the chance to hear the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. And on that day, they also were able to see the fulfillment of a prophecy given by Joel centuries prior, both of which were only made possible by the Holy Spirit’s work. It is incredibly important for us to remember that the Spirit’s works are still alive and active, opening our eyes and ears to the words that God continues to speak to us and seeking to remove the possibility of misunderstanding his desire for our lives.
For Reflection
- When have you seen the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life in a way that has ensured that you have not misunderstood God’s desire for your life?
- Have you ever experienced the Spirit speaking through you? What happened and what was that experience like?
Prayer
Come Holy Spirit. Speak to us this day and every day of our lives that we might know your desire for us, that we might reach out to others to show the love that you have for all of your Creation, and that we might be those who speak your Good News to the world. In Jesus’ name we pray; amen.
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Devotionals