Daily Devotion

by Peter McCutcheon

If you’ve heard my name or seen my face around Good Shepherd, I can almost guarantee that you recognize me from playing in the contemporary worship band on Sunday mornings. Music has been a spiritual artery for my life ever since I started playing bass over a decade ago. 

Almost as soon as I got my first bass guitar for my 11th birthday, I wanted to play in church. At the time, I was a part of a local Baptist congregation with a healthy youth group. On Sunday mornings, instead of going to the main service, I would worship with a group of 7th and 8th graders. (The first time I got to play at church, my bass had a pretty bad electrical problem. When the pastor started praying, my bass almost burst the speakers with its static popping and buzzing. God humbled me from day 1, truly.)

Eventually, as Junior High worship transitioned into High School, I was beginning to take music very seriously. I quit sports just to focus on music. As a senior in high school, still attached to the same congregation, I had a really odd feeling in my gut. I wanted to worship so badly, like I wanted to play bass every Sunday and help out during the week and really be involved with God’s Church, but I felt ignored. When the depth of this rejection to serve became apparent, I left the congregation. 

Still thirsty for a marrow of worship, I sought out Ken Holdt. He had asked me to play bass at Good Shepherd once or twice before, and we were good friends by my senior year of high school. (Well, he was my teacher, but he’s still a friend). I told him my story of wanting to serve God and being rejected, and I asked if there would be a place for me. You can guess his response. 

Good Shepherd has been a fountain of opportunity to match my need to serve God. I have been so incredibly blessed to be in that position that I’ve always wanted: to not only feel needed, but to be sought out. It may be a selfish quality, I admit, but I have come to interpret it as how deep my relationships are to everyone at Good Shepherd. From my love of God harvested by my love of music, Good Shepherd has lovingly dragged me into new territory like VBS, Family Worship, singing in choirs, playing the organ, recording music videos, and even writing this devotion! My faith journey is undoubtedly marked by my musical growth, and I am so thankful to be lovingly dragged to where I am now. Amen.