It Wasn’t Inevitable After All

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2026 postseason as heavy favorites to win the World Series, and it’s easy to see why.

For starters, the Dodgers proved their pedigree with back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. 

And rather than resting on its laurels, Los Angeles went out this offseason and kept flexing its financial power. The Dodgers’ 2026 luxury tax payroll was just over $433 million, the highest figure in the league.

For context, Los Angeles’ luxury tax payroll exceeded the combined payrolls of the three other teams in the respective League Championship Series (Brewers, Rays, and Guardians). 

We also cannot forget about the fact that the Dodgers were able to strike a deal just before the trade deadline to add two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who is widely regarded as the best pitcher in baseball, to their starting rotation.

For all those reasons, among others, it felt almost inevitable that Los Angeles would become the first National League team in history to win three consecutive World Series titles this fall. 

But Los Angeles’ dreams of making history came to an abrupt halt in the NLCS, as the Dodgers were summarily swept by the pesky and talented Milwaukee Brewers.

Though it may have seemed like the Dodgers would clinch the pennant, Los Angeles was thoroughly outplayed in every facet of the game throughout the series. 

Milwaukee’s offense used a brilliant mix of home run power and tactical “small ball” to light up the scoreboard against Los Angeles’ vaunted rotation. 

Meanwhile, the Brewers' pitching staff limited a dynamic Los Angeles lineup to just one home run in the four contests. 

It was another reminder for us sports fans that just because an outcome often seems inevitable doesn’t mean it is.

Milwaukee knew most of the sports world expected an inevitable Dodgers victory, but the Brewers didn't let that deter them from believing they could win their second pennant in club history.

As followers of Jesus, we can be tempted to believe certain outcomes are inevitable. In particular, when we battle a besetting sin, it can feel inevitable to give in to temptation and participate in the sin.

We can wrongly believe that having succumbed to temptation in the past proves it is a foregone conclusion that we will do the same moving forward. But in those moments, we must cling to the truth of God’s Word: we never have to give in to temptation.

In the midst of a passage speaking on the effects of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, Romans 6:6 (ESV) says, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

When temptation pulls strongly, we must remember that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is even stronger. Instead of focusing on how strong our temptation feels, we should focus on meditating on the effectiveness of Jesus' death on the cross, which frees us from sin's power.

The passage in Romans 6 goes on to say, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:9-11; ESV).

When Scripture tells us to consider ourselves “dead to sin,” it doesn't mean that we somehow believe that we are incapable of sinning. We know that is emphatically incorrect.

It does, however, mean that we choose to believe we don't have to give in to temptation. We choose to believe that Christ has given us the power to say “no” to sin, so that we can say “yes” to His obedience.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) provides us with this precious promise: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

When we face temptation, we can be sure God has provided a way for us to walk the path of obedience. 

As we face temptation, we must intentionally meditate on Christ's work, remembering how He resisted temptation and walked in perfect obedience to the Father, even though He faced temptation and suffering beyond anything we will ever experience.

Hebrews 12:3-4 (NASB) tells us, “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”

Today, let's be mindful that we're not inevitably required to give in to sin. Let's remember what Jesus has done for us, rejoicing that His sacrifice is sufficient to empower us to walk in obedience to God.

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that You have made a way for me to win in my battle against temptation. Please help me remain confident in the power of Christ’s sacrifice and look to You in my time of need. I pray that my life would bring You glory as I walk in obedience. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.