Today’s 333 Devotional: “Offense and Defense Needed”

In sports, a team succeeds not only when the offence scores more points than their opponent, but also when the defense limits the other team’s ability to score. So, it’s not all about offence, but also about defense.

And while they say, “Offense wins games. Defense wins championships,” it’s really a mix of the two that gets it done.

The same can be said of our spiritual life. It’s not all about the offense, but the defense as well.

Consider the armor God gives. There are the offensive weapons God gives, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, and praying in the spirit, which I consider to be God’s long range weaponry. But then you have the defensive armor so that we don’t get taken out by the enemy, which is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:14-18).

This is a spiritual battle we’re in, not physical. Paul brings this understanding in his letter to the Ephesian Church. He said, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)

This is also seen in what the Apostle James said in James 4:7-8. He said, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Therefore, let’s put on our armor and resist the devil, and pick up our weaponry and draw near to God. It’s both the offence and defense that wins. But the greatest offense and defensive weapon we possess is our faith and trust in God.