Both are important
January 11, 2010 (Monday)
Football comes in many different packages. Some schools are so small that the football teams only have six members. Many people enjoy watching six-man football more than the kind with eleven team members. Their games are usually high scoring games and are exciting to watch. Generally the same people play both defense and offense.
For many years every football game was played with the same team playing offense and defense. “Defense” was mainly a matter of team members just waiting for their turn with the ball again, hoping the other team would not score. The first known use of the so-called “two-platoon” system was by Michigan head coach Fritz Crisler in 1945, in a game against an Army team under head coach “Colonel” Earl “Red” Blaik. Other teams later followed the example, resulting in the present system of offensive and defensive teams.
Did you know that the Bible urges us to have a good defense against Satan and temptation? For instance, James urges you to “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Defend yourself. Jesus showed you how to do that when he was tempted. He quoted the Word of God to the devil, and finally the devil left him alone (Matthew 4:1-11). Paul reminded you, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV). When you resist, God helps you to be strong.
“The best defense is a good offense” is an often-quoted proverb. For us that means, “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15). Christ’s call to each of us is, “Follow me!” (Matthew 4:19). The great hymn, “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go,” demonstrates the spirit of the true Christian as he goes forth wearing the whole armor of God, never ceasing to pray, and wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), spiritual weaponry for a spiritual war with a spiritual enemy.