Least Likely to Succeed?

Have you ever noticed that the characters of Advent and Christmas are NOT those probably voted “most likely to succeed”?  The Jesse tree, Jesus’ family tree, is scattered with cheaters, prostitutes, adulterers, heretics, and murderers.  Jesus certainly did not come from a prestigious, wealthy, prominent, "successful" line of ancestors. 

Sarah doubted God’s promise to give her a son. Jacob stole his brother’s birthright and later wrestled with God until he was “broken down”.  Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian and had a speech problem. Rahab was a prostitute and Ruth was a widow, both probably longed for true intimacy. David, while looking like the embodiment of success, committed adultery and murder.

Of course, there were the faithful family members too, those that trusted and obeyed.  But even these don’t necessarily shout “success”.  Abraham left the comfort of his successful home to follow a promise of a new land and many descendants, later having only one son. Joseph was sold into slavery, and despite his noblest efforts, was thrown into jail. He certainly did not seem to be on the path to success. 

The birth of Jesus is filled with additional questionable characters, an innkeeper’s wife, a band of smelly shepherds and a stable filled with sweaty animals trying to keep warm. Oh, and a young couple with nothing but their “yes”.

How many of us would look on this Jesus and be impressed by his lineage, his family ties, his possessions or his circumstances? How many of us would say that he is “most likely to succeed”?

And yet, succeed He did.  He radically changed the world.  He saved the world.  He saved you and me.  He took our broken lives, our struggle with sin and defeat and gave us resurrection and hope.

Isn’t that the mystery?  How God can take crooked roads, broken people and painful situations, and bring glory and “success” out of them.   

When God looks at you and me, He does not see someone “least likely to succeed”.  He knows what we are capable of and who He has created us to be.  He knows the path we will follow, and he knows at what point we will give our “yes”, surrendering our ideas of success, and allow Him to transform our circumstances, and through us, to transform our corner of the world.

You may not have the best "family tree", but you are not defined by this or by past choices you may have made. You can give your "yes" to drawing close to the manger, to allow Emmanuel, God with us, God come down, to love you.  He came for you.  Let him love you and lead you. Your life will never be the same.