Category: Devotionals, Pastor Scott

Devotional on 1 John

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Sightseeing in San Francisco, CA – Alcatraz

Loving the people of God

1John 5: The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

Before moving to other things John says a bit more about love in action. Heā€™s already insisted that to be a follower of God requires more than words or even sincere desire. Again, ā€œlove,ā€ to him is an ā€œactionā€ word rather than a ā€œfeelingsā€ word. To love God is to love the Son and to love the Son is to love those heā€™s brought into the family of God. So what does it mean to love the children of God? Immediately, John takes us back to action. I love Godā€™s people, not by feeling a certain way about them but, rather, by treating them in a certain way. John reminds me that God has given me some commandments concerning how Iā€™m to treat my brothers and sisters. If I love God, Iā€™ll keep those commandments and in doing so Iā€™ll ā€œloveā€ those who are part of this great family of God. If I want proof of my love of God Iā€™ll find it in how I treat his people. John adds that this isnā€™t that big a deal because this ā€œlove in actionā€ thatā€™s required of me isnā€™t all that troubling. Iā€™m to love people as I love myself. That is, Iā€™m to care about the needs of their lives, their comfort, and their security. Loving self isnā€™t about feeling a certain way about myself but is, rather, about the action I take on my own behalf. Thatā€™s exactly how Iā€™m to love Godā€™s people.

Take Away: To learn about your relationship with God, take a good look at your relationship to his people.

Devotional on Mark

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Dead Horse Point State Park, UT

Me first

Mark 10: He came to serve, not to be served.

Jesus begins his march to the cross. As he and his disciples begin their journey to Jerusalem he tells them whatā€™s coming, the bad and the good. When James and John ask for favored positions in his kingdom, Jesus tells them that they donā€™t know what they’re asking. Very soon, being on his right and left wonā€™t be very desirable places to be. He again directs them down the servant path as the route to greatness. Being the slave of others is the Christian route to leadership and Jesus is about to demonstrate that in a most unexpected way. Heā€™s going to die, not only that we might be set free from the death penalty, but so that we might learn from him to, ourselves, die. This lesson isnā€™t only hard to learn, itā€™s also unwelcome. Most of us live our lives trying to get things our own way. When we somehow achieve position one of the perks is that we can now call the shots to suit ourselves. It is human nature to view everything from the ā€œmeā€ point of view. Jesus turns this self-centered world upside down. He says that in his Kingdom, those in power serve with the needs of others uppermost in their minds. Frankly, after 2000 years youā€™d think Christians would have a better grasp on this. Frankly, after being a Christian most of my life, Iā€™d think Iā€™d have a better grasp on it.

Take Away: Jesus gave his all to, in part, show us how to give our all.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Significant Dreams

Matthew 1: Joseph woke up. He did exactly what Godā€™s angel commanded in the dream.

Matthew begins the story of Jesus with genealogy, father to father to father. He then continues writing from the masculine perspective as he tells us of the God-sent dream of Joseph. Mary’s pregnant but itā€™s okay. Godā€™s behind all this, sending the Savior into the world. To Josephā€™s credit, he believes the message of the dream and moves forward in faith, never looking back. There are a lot of ā€œdream storiesā€ in the Bible. Way back in the book of Genesis Joseph has message-dreams and also interprets the dreams of others. Danielā€™s story is similar, and later on Paul will be directed in a dream by the Holy Spirit concerning his missionary journey. In spite of these, and many other stories, we donā€™t often think about God communicating to us in dreams. I understand that we now have the written Word of God and that probably accounts for less emphasis on dream messages. Still, I wonder if our own lack of expectation might choke off the possibility of God speaking to us in this way. While Iā€™m not ready to jump off the cliff on this one, I do want to be open to whatever word the Lord might have for me. Maybe bedtime prayers should include not only a request for the Lordā€™s protection while we sleep but a promise to take seriously anything the Lord might have to say to us through our dreams.

Take Away: I want to be open to hear the Voice of God in whatever way he might speak to me.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Church of the Nazarene

Matthew 2: He shall be called a Nazarene

I like to think about the little mysteries of the Bible and Matthewā€™s comment that Josephā€™s moving his family to the town of Nazareth, thus making Jesus a ā€œNazareneā€ is a fulfillment of prophecy is one such mystery. Thereā€™s no record of such a prophecy being stated, yet Matthew seems quite confident that pointing his readers to this is yet another proof of the Messiah-ship of Jesus. Iā€™ve found a couple of explanations to this. Some people think it has to do with the similarity of ā€œNazareneā€ to a Hebrew word meaning ā€œBranch.ā€ Use of that term is found in the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. It has to do with the Messiahā€™s being a descendent of David. The other idea has to do with the prophecies concerning the Messiahā€™s being despised and rejected. The connection is that Nazareth is considered to be a backward, unimportant place that could only produce backward, unimportant people. Thereā€™s a danger in overstating the standing (or lack there-of) of Nazareth here. Itā€™s not as though it’s thought of as a bad place. Itā€™s more of a ā€œno placeā€ than itā€™s a ā€œbad place.ā€ From the point of view of the religious scholars of that day, Nazareth and a hundred other small towns donā€™t qualify as a place worthy of consideration. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be overlooked and rejected…a sort of ā€œNazarene.ā€ Whatever the answer to this little riddle, Matthew thinks it should help people decide, along with the rest of his Gospel, that Jesus, is, indeed, the Messiah of God.

Take Away: We donā€™t have to solve every mystery of the Bible, sometimes they just add a bit of spice to our study of it.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The Trinity

Mathew 3: Jesus came up…Godā€™s Spirit…descended…a voice… ā€œThis is my Son.ā€

For a brief moment in time Johnā€™s light shines brighter than all others. His rough appearance and demeanor only add to his mystique and people canā€™t get enough of him. John spends a lot of time talking about repentance but he also proclaims the coming of the Messiah. On this day it all comes together. His cousin, Jesus, makes his way to the riverside and asks to be baptized. With uncharacteristic timidity John backs down, acknowledging that Jesus is closer to God than he is. If thereā€™s any baptizing to be done, itā€™s Jesus who should baptize him. When Jesus insists, John yields and the result is a moment frozen in time. Jesus comes up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descends, and the Voice of the Father is heard. You might call this a ā€œTrinity moment.ā€ Thatā€™s not to say that this event solves the mystery of the Person of Jesus once and for all. For hundreds of years at the beginning of Christianity godly people will struggle with the divinity/humanity of the Lord. This passage will remain a big player in that discussion. Somehow, we have Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father all acting in individual, complementary ways. Somehow, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and Father are one. Finally, after centuries of debate the Church arrived at the doctrine of the Trinity: Three in One. That isnā€™t to say the Church came up with a simple, easy to understand explanation of it all. Rather, itā€™s just an effort at stating a mystery and, really, in the end, itā€™s simply a matter of faith.

Take Away: Ultimately our religion and specifics concerning it are about faith and not about proof.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Going fishing

Matthew 4: Iā€™ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.

I almost wish Jesus hadnā€™t used the words he used concerning ā€œfishing for men.ā€ Generally speaking, our view of fishing is different than was theirs. These men fish for a living. Today, the average person fishes for fun. We use rods and reels and try to trick the unsuspecting fish into taking the bait. When we catch a big fish we take a picture so we can show our friends our catch. For us itā€™s sport, a nice pastime. Reaching the lost isnā€™t about sport and we arenā€™t to try to trick the lost into the Kingdom of God. Our motivation is the love and compassion for the lost that flows through our lives. The problem isnā€™t that Jesus said the wrong thing as much as it is that we filter it through our own experience. The result is sometimes less than he intended.

Take Away: Evangelism is about love and compassion and concern and not about ā€œcatching people.ā€

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The Perfect Sermon

Matthew 5: Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

In one glorious Sermon Jesus sums up the life to which God calls us. In every word we hear pure gold. Itā€™s in retrospect that I realize that this beautiful, perfectly constructed Sermon challenges me at every level of my life. This chapter of the Sermon touches on everything from how to be blessed, to heavy topics like murder, adultery and divorce. Jesus deals with the promises we make and our relationships with our enemies. Obviously, the religion he teaches isnā€™t merely about ā€œme and God.ā€ Just about every word in this perfect Sermon is about ā€œme and you.ā€ It concerns my relationship with people I like (and maybe like too much according to the section on adultery) and people I donā€™t like (Iā€™m to settle things with my old enemy quickly before things get even worse). He sums up this first part of the Sermon by teaching me to live ā€œgenerously and graciously.ā€ Rather than protecting my turf Iā€™m to think the best of people and be generous in my dealings with them. This pretty Sermon has teeth. Itā€™s supposed to work out here in the real world. And, just so I clearly understand the measure of this gracious, generous life style, Jesus tells me that Iā€™m to treat others in the same gracious, generous way God treats me. I need to spend a whole lot of time here at the Sermon on the Mount.

Take Away: The Christian life is as much about ā€œme and youā€ as itā€™s about ā€œGod and me.ā€

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Living in the present

Matthew 6: Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now.

I donā€™t think thereā€™s anything wrong with anticipation. Part of the joy of Christmas is the ā€œlonging with hopeā€ aspect of it that we highlight on the first Sunday of Advent each year. Still, thereā€™s a danger of so looking forward to something in the future that we forget to live in the present. Life isnā€™t all about tomorrow, for good or bad. Life is lived in the present. It has no rewind or fast forward buttons. In this passage Jesus reminds us that God is with us ā€œright now.ā€ We remember wonderful blessings in the past and appreciate what the Lord did for us then. We also look to the future with confidence in faith that the same good, gracious God will be with us in that day. Still, itā€™s right now thatā€™s most under my control. Not that I control the circumstances of right now, but I have some say about how I will live in those circumstances. So, one thing I gain from this passage is the reminder to live in this present moment; to appreciate the good things and to trust God with the not-so-good things. The other thing that comes to mind is the calm, certain assurance that God is, indeed, doing something ā€œright now.ā€ I may be praying for a great revival to come to my church, longing for that day to come. I may be looking forward to some major life event like the birth of a grandchild or some special anniversary. However, Jesus tells me that God is also doing things right here and right now. Heā€™s working in my life, walking with me in these ordinary days of life. After all, the great mystery of Christmas is the incarnation, Emmanuel, God with us.

Take Away: I need to be more aware of the blessings of life right now and not always focusing on some future blessing.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

One hundred percent

Matthew 7: The way to life ā€“ to God! ā€“ is vigorous and requires total attention.

A hitter in baseball might love the cheers of the fans and all the perks of being a star but when heā€™s in the batterā€™s box heā€™d better pay attention to business. Hitting a 95 mph fastball requires oneā€™s full attention. Jesus calls people to radical commitment. Fishermen abandon the tools of their trade to follow him. Tax collectors pay back, with interest, padded tax collections. Rich people are told to give it all away and follow. How can we read this kind of stuff in the Bible and come away thinking that all God wants from us is a lukewarm, half-hearted relationship? If Iā€™m going to be a disciple of Jesus I have to focus and commit. Living the Sermon on the Mount takes a lot more than an hour of church attendance each week. How in the world could anyone ever think otherwise? The payoff is wonderful, but the payout is huge: all of me for all of God. Iā€™m the winner in that deal, but itā€™s still a deal I have to be willing to make.

Take Away: When it comes to living the Christian life itā€™s all or nothing.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The banquet table of Godā€™s grace

Matthew 8: This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions.

In these early days of our Lordā€™s public ministry his popularity and reputation soars. Heā€™s not only preaching the greatest message ever heard but heā€™s also performing miracle after miracle. His nameā€™s on everyoneā€™s lips. In Capernaum a Roman officer comes to ask Jesus to help his servant. This man, a conqueror, impresses us with his humility and his love for his slave. Even more impressive, though, is his faith. When Jesus offers to accompany the Roman to see his slave the Roman suggests that Jesus just give the command, then and there. Jesus is surprised at such a depth of faith from an ā€œoutsider.ā€ Later in this same chapter heā€™ll chastise his Jewish disciples for being afraid in a storm; after all theyā€™re supposed to know more about how God works. This officer, though, surprises Jesus with his simple trust. Not only does Jesus do a ā€œlong distanceā€ act of healing, he also comments that this Roman soldier is among the first of what will be a flood of ā€œoutsidersā€ who’ll place their faith in him and be counted among heroes of the faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I love this story because itā€™s about me. You see, that Roman captain might have been one of the first, but Iā€™m one of those who followed his lead. Jesus predicted this and now Iā€™m one of the outsiders who have made their way to that ā€œbanquet table of grace.ā€

Take Away: How blessed to be invited to the banquet table of Godā€™s grace.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Guess whoā€™s coming to dinner?

Matthew 9: A lot of disreputable characters came and joined them.

Matthewā€™s job of collecting taxes makes him one of the most disliked people in the community. His dealing with the Romans is unsavory in the eyes of most people and tax collectors are viewed as being dishonest, taking advantage of others. We donā€™t know if thereā€™s more to the story, but his transition from collecting taxes to following Jesus happens in one sentence here in the book of the Bible that bears Matthewā€™s name. Jesus invites and Matthew stands up and follows. Later on, Matthew throws a party in honor of our Lord. Having followed Jesus for less than a day poor Matthew doesnā€™t have any ā€œinsiderā€ friends. All he has is ā€œoutsiderā€ friends; others who are looked down on by the ā€œrightā€ sort of people. Matthew invites them all to come to this event where they, too, can meet Jesus. The religious leaders canā€™t believe their eyes. All their suspicions about Jesus are confirmed. He canā€™t tell the difference between good and bad people. In fact, heā€™s too at home with the wrong sort of people. Know what? Jesus is right at home with them. However, the question to ask is, ā€œWhy are we followers of Jesus so uncomfortable around sinners?ā€ Jesus loved them, enjoyed their company, and offered them a better way. I fear that we church people have more in common with the religious leaders than we do with Jesus. We isolate and insulate ourselves inside our church buildings. We read our Christian books and go to our Christian movies and listen to our Christian radio stations. We have Christian softball and bowling leagues. When the pastor urges us to bring our unsaved friends to church we shrug our shoulders and declare that we donā€™t have any. Maybe the church world needs to add ā€œbefriend a sinnerā€ week to our busy church calendars.

Take Away: We canā€™t bring light to the world if we spend all our time hidden behind closed church doors.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Practical instruction

Matthew 10: Itā€™s best to start small.

Jesus now settles on twelve men to be his core team. They donā€™t know it yet, but they (with one exception) will become Apostles who will lead the infant church. He sends them out on a mission to spread word of Kingdom come. Interestingly, he spends as much time telling them what not to do as he does telling them what they are to do. For instance, he tells them not to head off for distant places. Rather, theyā€™re to stay local. He tells them that they donā€™t need to take a lot of stuff with them. Their changed lives are the best ā€œshow and tellā€ imaginable. Theyā€™re to stay in modest places, to be gentle and not argumentative with those they encounter, and to leave a place rather than stay for a fight. They arenā€™t to worry about what they will say but, instead, to trust the Lord to give them the right words at the right times. He tells them not to be afraid or intimidated. His example of Kingdom ministry is offering ā€œa cup of water to someone who’s thirsty.ā€ It occurs to me that I tend to make complicated what the Lord made simple. Maybe instead of spiritualizing all this stuff I need to do something simple like buying some bottled water to give out to anyone who looks like they might be thirsty.

Take Away: Letā€™s not complicate simple mattersā€¦if we keep it simple, weā€™ll find an abundance of ministry opportunities.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The sweetest invitation

Matthew 11: Come to me.

Thereā€™s no sweeter invitation than what we hear from the Lord: ā€œCome to me.ā€ This invitation is directed to people who are weary and beaten down by life. Itā€™s for people whoā€™ve tried to find satisfaction in sometimes self-destructive ways and, in the end, realize that all they have is a handful of sand. Specifically, this invitation is for people whoā€™ve tried religion and been hurt, maybe even abused, there. To all who are hurting, disappointed, tired, and empty Jesus says, ā€œCome to me.ā€ Itā€™s not about church rituals and rules; although such things have been found by many to be helpful. Itā€™s not about turning over a new leaf, making a New Yearā€™s resolution, or simply trying harder; although thereā€™s room here for self-improvement. Beyond all that, though, is Jesus. I respond to his sweet invitation by giving up my own claims to righteousness and reordering all other relationships to something less than number one. In response to this invitation to ā€œcomeā€ I turn my attention to Jesus and lay all else, including myself, at his feet. From that point on, I walk with him and learn from him, how to really live.

Take Away: Jesus is the only one who can truly make this offer, and he does make it to all who will come.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The way to forgiveness

Matthew 12: If Satan banishes Satan is there any Satan left?

Itā€™s really about the Sabbath. The religious leaders have taken ā€œRemember the Sabbath dayā€ and turned it into a heavy burden laid on the backs of the people. Even picking a piece of fruit to eat is considered to be a transgression. Jesus responds with examples from their own law and history proving that theyā€™re wrong. He goes on healing people, even on the Sabbath. When a demon-afflicted woman is set free the critics of Jesus sputter that he must be in cahoots with the devil. Our Lord responds that if they say that about him what do they say about their own exorcists? Beyond that, itā€™s a silly contention anyway. If Satan casts out Satan there wouldnā€™t be anything of Satan left. He then deals with the opposite side of the same coin. If the Holy Spirit is the One who forgives sins and we cast the Holy Spirit out of lives, how can we ever expect to be forgiven our sins? Its serious business isnā€™t it. Weā€™re sinners in need of forgiveness. Thereā€™s one who forgives. Throw him out and weā€™re left without hope. Stated differently, thereā€™s one road to forgiveness, if I refuse to travel that road, thereā€™s no way I can ever arrive at forgiveness. The way to God is abundant and grace-filled, offering hope to the worst sinner. Still, itā€™s the only way. I can take it or leave it, but if I leave it, Iā€™m left with nothing.

Take Away: We have, in Christ, hope abundant, but aside from Christ we have no hope at all.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Teaching on teaching

Matthew 13: Are you starting to get a handle on all this?

In this chapter Matthew gives us several examples of Jesus teaching. We hear about the sower and the seed, a series of stories about how, in the Judgment, the division of the human race will take place and stories that illustrate the growth of the Kingdom of God. Of course, each story is true and helps us better understand spiritual reality. However, the overall purpose of the stories is to teach the disciples how to teach kingdom truths. Jesus explains that the reason he tells stories is to ā€œcreate readiness.ā€ If he begins his teachings at the high school level, all those who are at the elementary level are left out. Therefore, he starts with stories that pry open some new small comprehension that wasnā€™t there before. As he concludes this ā€œteaching on teachingā€ Jesus asks his disciples if they get it. I think ā€œgetting itā€ doesnā€™t necessarily mean that we Sunday preachers are supposed to always build our sermons around stories (although itā€™s not a bad idea). Instead, ā€œgetting itā€ means that we remember to start our preaching at the level of our listeners. Seasoned students of the Word tend to forget that things we take for granted are new territory for others. We also like ā€œchurch wordsā€ and freely sprinkle them into our sermons. On one hand, we donā€™t want to show disrespect for people by talking down to them. On the other hand, we donā€™t want to be so ā€œabove and beyondā€ that the average person is untouched by truths that could transform their lives.

Take Away: We need to minister to people at their level of understanding.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

A wonderful faith experiment

Matthew 14: When he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve.

This is such a neat story! Out on the sea in rough, windy conditions Jesus comes to the disciples, walking on the water. Peter asks for permission to join Jesus out on the waves and Jesus tells him to ā€œcome.ā€ Peter does it! He climbs out of the boat and steps out onto the water. Canā€™t you imagine Jesus and Peter laughing together as they do the impossible! However, this is no glassy pond on a summer afternoon. Instead, theyā€™re in the dark in a wind storm and the waves are high. For Jesus and Peter it must be quite a ride, bobbing up and down, being sprayed by the driven waves. Itā€™s at that point that euphoria drains from Peter. The waterā€™s very real and in no way capable of supporting him. As he begins to sink he looks up to Jesus who remains confidently on top of the water. ā€œSave me!ā€ Peter cries. Without a secondā€™s hesitation, Jesus reaches out and pulls him back on top, now carrying the weight of both of them. Jesus calls Peter ā€œfaint heartā€ but I think heā€™s quietly pleased that Peter joined him in this wonderful experiment of faith. I know this is a unique situation: a moment in history. Still, I canā€™t help but be impressed by the power of faith in very real, impossible situations. Iā€™m also glad to note that Peter didnā€™t have to cry out but one time. Jesus may have called Peter a ā€œfaint heartā€ but he saved him first.

Take Away: God responds to our faith in wonderful, sometimes unexpected ways.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Priorities

Matthew 15: I hurt for these people.

I donā€™t think the stories of the response of Jesus to the Pharisees and his response to the hungry people out in the wilderness are necessarily intentionally placed as they are, but they do provide an interesting study in contrasts. For three days Jesus has ministered to people in a ā€œdeserted place.ā€ Near the conclusion, the physical hunger of the people is obvious to Jesus, who has had his own intense hunger experience at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus remarks to the disciples that he hurts for them and then performs the miracle of the feeding of the four thousand. Earlier, though, Jesus has an encounter with the Pharisees and religion scholars who travel all the way from Jerusalem to check out his ministry. They immediately complain that the disciples donā€™t properly follow the rules concerning religious practice that theyā€™ve set up. Jesus, in just a few words, puts them in their place and the disciples are somewhat concerned that Jesus has upset these powerful people. In this case, Jesus just shrugs his shoulders and says in so many words that what these people say or think doesnā€™t matter. Hereā€™s our Lord dealing with different sets of people. Some, he says arenā€™t worth our time. Their words and opinions will be ā€œpulled up by their rootsā€ so we might as well just ā€œforget them.ā€ Others though are people who are hurting. They may not be important in the eyes of society, but they matter to God and should matter to us. In Jesusā€™ day, his priorities are upside down as far as the world is concerned. They still are. Iā€™m a follower of Jesus and I want my priorities to reflect that. God help me to brush off that which isnā€™t worth a hill of beans and to figure out what really matters.

Take Away: Some things that others worry about arenā€™t worth our time and effort. Some things no one else worries about are.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

A lesson from the bakery

Matthew 16: Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.

I wonder what Jesus is talking about when he tells his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Thereā€™s a clue just a few lines earlier. These people want Jesus to prove himself to them, probably by performing some miracle. Jesus dismisses them by saying that theyā€™re going to get proof alright, the powerful proof of life out of death when, as Jonah returned from the deep, he, himself, will return from the grave. At that point Jesus turns his back on them and walks away. Later he warns his disciples to beware of their ā€œyeast.ā€ Those who bake bread know about yeast. A little is worked into the dough so it will rise, becoming soft and tasty. Jesus says that thereā€™s ā€œyeastā€ that can work its way into every part of our lives, bringing not good results, but bad. Itā€™s the insistence on God doing things our way, having to prove himself to us before weā€™ll believe. In the encounters of the Pharisees and Sadducees with Jesus thereā€™s always a tug of war concerning whoā€™s in charge and what Jesus has to do to satisfy them. Jesus warns his disciples to not fall into that trap. Before we know it this approach will work its way into our lives. When God doesnā€™t do things our way and in our time, weā€™ll begin to doubt him and his goodness. Later in this same passage, Peter first declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Later on though, we see the yeast of the Pharisees when he argues against Jesus proceeding Godā€™s way, thinking he knows better. If Peter, in basically the same conversation can go from a great statement of faith to one of ā€œmy way is betterā€ Iā€™d better take warning. This yeast can work its way into my life before I even know it.

Take Away: The idea that I always know just what God should do and how he should do it can sneak into my thinking and take root there.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

Intentionally or not, the disciples did the right thing

Matthew 17: His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face.

To some extent I donā€™t think the Church has ever fully grasped the Person of Jesus. It took hundreds of years for the doctrine of the Trinity to be established and itā€™s been ā€œofficialā€ now for over 1600 years. Still, if you talk to some people theyā€™re still back in the early years of Christian theology and not convinced at all that the Trinity doctrine has it right. When we think about the Person of Jesus thereā€™s always a tug a war between ā€œheā€™s Godā€ and ā€œheā€™s man.ā€ In the pages of the Gospels we watch Jesus, the man. He grows weary and sleeps, he gets thirsty, and he bleeds. We also watch Jesus, the Lord. He forgives sins and tells his disciples that he and the Father are one. In this passage, as Jesus takes three disciples up on the mountain, the humanity of Jesus is overwhelmed by this divinity. The disciples see it as light that pours out of him. This isnā€™t the Jesus they ate supper with last light. This isnā€™t the Jesus who slept through the storm. This is God. Peter, James, and John donā€™t know what to say or do as they experience this Jesus. Still, maybe by instinct, they do the right thing: they fall flat on their faces in reverence and awe. Know what? This radiant-light-pouring-out-of-his-face Jesus is just as much Jesus as the hungry, sleepy, dying-on-the-cross Jesus. Falling down in worship before him is an excellent response.

Take Away: We may struggle with the person of Jesus, but worshiping him is always the right response.

Devotional on Matthew

GR 'Scott' Cundiff
2014 – Arches National Park, Utah

The Christian way

Matthew 18: If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him ā€“ work it out between the two of you.

We Christians claim to be followers of Jesus but we tend to overlook some of the inconvenient things he teaches. Jesus says that if thereā€™s something going on between me and you that my first order of business is to go to you and explain to you how Iā€™ve been hurt. If that doesnā€™t work out there are further steps Iā€™m to take in seeking reconciliation with you. The thing is we Christians seldom follow these clear instructions. We go around with a chip on our shoulder, talk about people (otherwise known as gossip), start lining up our allies and identifying our enemies and, in general, toss aside this teaching of our Lord and Master. When thatā€™s done, a rift in the church is formed that draws people into the fight and drives people out of the church. Energies that should be spent in winning the lost are wasted in attempts to win the fight. Still, for those of us who canā€™t imagine dealing with a broken relationship like Jesus says, Iā€™m going to offer an alternative approach. Just forget it. Stop being hurt, stop ā€œremembering,ā€ stop talking, and forgive from the depths of your heart. Apologize to Jesus for being so shallow as to be hurt about whatever it is and ask him to forgive you as youā€™re forgiving them. This alternative is almost implied by the rest of this passage in which Jesus talks about the unforgiving servant. So, when Iā€™m hurt and upset about something, as a follower of Jesus, I have a couple of options. I can go to you and begin the reconciliation process Jesus described or I can stop being so sensitive and let it go, forgiving as Iā€™ve been forgiven. Responding to hurts in these ways is how Christians do things.

Take Away: A Christian with a chip on his or her shoulder isnā€™t behaving like a Christian at all.

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