Today’s scripture reading is Matthew 4:1-11.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down…” -Matthew 4:5-6a
I bet a lot of you didn’t know that I’m a big NASCAR fan. Watching the Daytona 500 in person is one of the items on my sports bucket list.
This year’s race had a rain delay during which they interviewed lots of drivers, one of which was Ryan Newman. His wreck on the last lap of the 2020 Daytona 500 is one of the most frightening things I’ve ever seen. Miraculously, he walked out of the hospital two days.
Newman was asked if he ever thought about not racing again after the accident. He essentially said that racing is what he loves to do and what God has blessed him to do. His father added that whether his son lived or died on the track, he was doing what he loved.
In our scripture lesson today, Jesus is led out into the wilderness where he is tempted by the devil. On one occasion, the devil takes Jesus to the temple and tells him to jump, to see if God will save him. Jesus refuses. Maybe Jesus refuses because he doesn’t want people to put themselves in dangerous situations and expect God to save them. Maybe Jesus refuses because he was created and called to do something else. His time in the desert was to prepare him for that calling, a calling that nevertheless put himself in danger.
Ryan Newman doesn’t get into a race car because he thinks God will always keep him safe. He does it because that’s what he feels created and called to do… even if it might potentially lead to injury or death.
Jesus didn’t jump off the temple because that wasn’t what he was created or called to do. He was committed to his true calling… even if it meant death on a cross.
What has God called you to do? How is God preparing you for that calling?
May God grant you the grace to be faithful to God’s call on your life.
