The offensive or defensive line?

I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. (Psalm 119:14-16)

If it seems like we have been focusing a lot on the importance of God's Word over the past several weeks, we have! Why? God's Word is both a weapon of defense and offense. If we find we are entering into a battle of any sort, we want both, don't we? We need the wisdom contained therein in order to be able to initiate our attack when the enemy strikes, as well as the resources to protect us from harm during an attack. 

Defense is definitely about our protection, but offense sees opportunities as they are set before us, weighs the value of all the moves that can be made, and then acts upon the best one. Without a good offense, the best defense at our disposal is only half-effective. We don't want to be under attack, but when we are, we want to know our walls of defense are strong, able to withstand whatever is coming our way. 

Think of offense as being proactive, while we think of defense as being reactive. We might see this best in sports. The American game of football has both a defensive and offensive line. One drives the ball forward toward the goal, while the other defends the territory of the goal from the one attempting to drive forward into that territory. The end result is that one scores, while the other keeps the opponent from scoring! In life, I want to score, how about you?

Remember this - the enemy of our soul does his best to create a strong defensive line, as well. We need God's wisdom to combat the tactics he establishes in attempting to gain ground in our lives. As we protect the goal, we need God's insights into how the enemy will move, where he will attack, and when he will make his move. We can discover so much about his tactics by reading our Bibles. If we learn these things ahead of his moves, we are establishing better defenses and are ever alert with our own offensive line! Just sayin!