Good morning. I hope that my words of encouragement put you on the defensive today. If not, then I am not doing my job. So let’s take a look at how you can get defensive. Do you get defensive when the enemy attacks?
As you can see (above) some go to great lengths to be defensive. So being defensive is more than responding to a verbal assault or protecting yourself from false accusations, though it does certainly apply. But being defensive also has to do with physical and spiritual protection.
Think of some of the greatest defenses in sports history. Defense wins championships. Both teams may have two of the best offenses. But if neither team has a defense, then it’s the last one to score who wins when time runs out. But if one team has a little bit better defense, and can come up with that one key stop or turnover, that will make them the winner.
It’s Defense that Wins Championships
Defense protects the territory from the opponent (or enemy) to keep them from scoring. In Football, defense protects the end zone. As in basketball, defense protects the hoop or goal. And in hockey or soccer, the defense protects the net or goal. So the defense keeps the other team from scoring, which if successful keeps them from winning.
The best time for a great offensive move is when the opportunity is set up by a great defensive stand.
The Armor of God – A Great Defense
Armor (noun) a means or method of protecting oneself.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, are you on the defensive or on the offensive? Let’s take a look at Ephesians and see what God has to say through Paul.
Ephesians 6:11 niv
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
In this verse we can see that God’s armor protects (is defensive) against the devil’s plans (his offensive playbook). And then once again in verse 13 Paul emphasizes being on the defensive.
Ephesians 6:13 niv
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Over the next several days I will be coming back to being on the defensive, and how the armor of God applies to this. Do you get defensive when the enemy attacks?
Challenge of the Day: Be ready to make a stand! The devil is looking to make a score. Be prepared at any point during the day to make a great defensive stand. You have the living armor of God in Jesus as a part of your every-day-walking-around-kind-of-life…every step of the way. So be it!
