SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Author: Dr. Jay Madden, Executive Pastor

FROM THE BIBLE

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 1:3-6

DEVOTIONAL

Through the years, I have read the Apostle Paul’s letters countless times. On so many occasions, he wrote in the face of some kind of challenge in his life or the life of the churches that received his letters. I am always struck by his words, demonstrating that his sense of gratitude was always front and center, no matter the circumstances. We see this sentiment in the beginning of his letter to the church in Philippi. Paul is thankful to God because he is always grounded in the truth of his own story-that grace found him. He never lost sight of the knowledge that all that he was and had achieved was the result of what Christ had done in and through him. He also never lost sight of the fact that his ministry was not done alone, but it was only possible because he did it in partnership with others. 

There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go together.” When we reflect on the story of Peachtree, it is a story of what God has done through us all. We have gone far because we have gone together. Through the years, we have been blessed with gifted and faithful leaders, but their success was achieved in partnership with the church at large. At each critical moment, we have come together to reflect Christ in our community. Renewing the Promise is such a moment where we have the chance to come together in partnership for the gospel. It’s a moment not just for us but for those that will come after us. It’s a moment to make a deposit into the lives of the next generation and to impact our city for years to come. 

One of my ministry’s joys has been seeing how your generosity has touched lives in Atlanta and around the world. Time and again, I have seen people’s lives changed by your commitment. So, I share Paul’s sentiments, thankful to God for what he has done in and through us together, for your partnership in the gospel. I am confident that he will continue this good work that he has begun in us together at Peachtree until the day of Christ Jesus. 

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for what You have done in and through us. We thank You that in Your grace, You have called us to Your work. We are thankful that Your gospel demands that we not be alone but that we are together in community. So, we ask that You continue to bless us and inspire us as Your people at this moment in time.