Matthew 2:1-15
Against All Odds

In the faceoff of King Herod and the newborn king, Jesus, the smart bet was on Herod. He was a man with power, a hustler who had manipulated his way to the throne as the king of the Jews. He was a narcissist who was so determined to protect his status as king that he ordered the deaths of his wife and sons when he perceived them as threats. The Magi inadvertently served as Herod’s informants when they appeared in Jerusalem, speaking of a newborn king who was worthy of worship and who even had his own star. Jealous Herod realized he had a rival, but he knew where to find him. Herod had the motivation, evil character, power, and opportunity to kill baby Jesus. But, against all odds, the vulnerable baby Jesus survived the wiles of evil King Herod.

Pastor Dave emphasized that God deliberately worsened the odds against baby Jesus by using the Magi to dangle information about the newborn king in front of Herod. He cited several other examples from Scripture of God stacking the odds against Himself. God wants human beings to know that odds mean nothing to Him; nothing, no one, can thwart Him. Before the Lord, remember whom you serve, especially if the odds against you seem overwhelming in some area of life. Praise Him with awe. Sing again the bridge from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:

Rejoice, again I say rejoice
For unto us is born the Savior of the world
Take heart, O weary soul, take heart
For help is on its way and Holy is his name

Dave made the claim that, if you are a Christian, you are right with God against all odds. After all, each of us is a sinner, and the wages of sin are death. We cannot save ourselves. Who could have guessed that God’s plan was to come to us in the human form of baby Jesus, who would grow up to die for our sins? Thank God that, against all odds, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

As this dark year draws to a close, there may be more people than ever who are outside the faith, looking in, with some degree of longing. And yet, in this pandemic year, options for inviting them to a Christmas Eve service or other Christmas event have narrowed. Just when people need hope, the pandemic has erected obstacles to offering it. Ask the Lord to bring to your mind someone who is ripe for the hope of Christ; lift him or her up in prayer. Also ask God to show you how to reach out to that person, creatively and effectively.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea

P.S. Look for the next edition of the prayer blog on January 5, 2021. Merry Christmas!