Matthew 4:1-11
Morning Prayer
The crucial point in today’s reading isn’t that Jesus faced down the devil. The crucial point to this story is that Jesus was “tempted.” The drama and conflict in this story takes place within Jesus’s heart. The conflict is whether this Son of God will seek to objectively “prove” who he is, and then assert his power over those who will have no choice but to submit, however grudgingly.
Instead, Jesus commits himself to a ministry of presence and persuasion. He will be present with human beings in their fear and desire for comfort, security and power. He too will know those fears and desires, and yet trust in his Father to guide him and provide what he needs from day to day. Perhaps if people see his example, they will be inspired to trust their heavenly Father in the same way. But what God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit want is our trust, not our submission.
As we walk along the way of our life, let us trust in God, and not grasp for proof of God’s power, righteousness, or love. All those things will be revealed in God’s time.
No comments:
Post a Comment