I have always been for the underdog. When I used to go Christmas tree shopping, I would search for the “Charlie Brown” tree – the tree that was slightly imperfect – because I knew that nobody else would want a tree that is defective. And animals? If approaching a litter of puppies or kittens, I would try to find the runt, the little one pushed aside by its stronger brothers and sisters, to give it special love and attention. Now, football is a different story, so we will not go there! (Maybe I should have said, I’m usually for the underdog.)

     As a society, we do not want anything that’s imperfect, do we? Think about it; at the grocery store, we pick through the produce to find the roundest, brightest, and hopefully tastiest fruit in the bin. When choosing teams, we want to have the fastest and most skilled people on our side. You get the picture.

     What if Jesus worked that way? What if Jesus made us meet a set of criteria before inviting us into relationship with Him? What if He only chose the best and the most fit to do His work? I don’t know about you, but I would be out! Thankfully, Jesus does not work like that at all. He came into this world in the humblest of ways – born in a stable and the son of a carpenter. He hung around with fishermen and tax collectors and equipped them to start His church and pen words that are still filling our souls today. He was willing to step out of heaven and get in our mess out of His great love for us. His compassion and care for the poor and lowly tells me that God is for the underdog, too.

     The fact that God is for the underdog is great news for me – because I am one. I see me, standing in my filthy rags, not worthy of relationship with the God of the heavens and the earth. And I see Jesus approaching in all His glory pointing at me and saying, “I’ll take that one,” and pointing at you, saying, “I’ll take that one, too.” Standing next to glory, we are all imperfect. But Jesus does not see us that way. He extends His hand to us and offers us Himself if we simply accept and follow Him, just as we are.

     In this season of Advent and Christmas, let us open our hands and our heart to receive His gift of redemption. And let us rest in the assurance that with Jesus, we are no longer underdogs but beloved sons and daughters of our most high king, equipped by him and for him to do His work. Praise be to God!