Have you ever watched a sporting event where one team was considered the underdog? The sports casters outline every possible stat and explain how one team will in no way beat the defending champions. As a teenager I was a basketball fanatic. I may date myself with this fact, but I used to video tape the Houston Rockets, not because I was going to miss the game, but because I wanted to watch it more than once. I remember so many games that they should have lost, but they rose to the level of their competition. They would play a team that was statistically the best defensive team in the NBA and the Rockets would take their offense to another level.
Great defense spurs great offense!!! This is an amazing platitude for sports and is often what makes it fun to watch and even play. Unfortunately, this truth also applies to human interactions. Think about that for a minute.
When a person confronts another person with an offense, the offender’s natural response is to defend themselves. Did you follow me there? The offender presents his best defense, just like with sports, which then spurs a greater offense. Do you see the cycle? It is not nearly as fun in relationships as it is in sports.
All of a sudden, we have become confused as to who is our real opponent. As humans, we are on the same team. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t wrestle, (compete or war) with flesh and blood. Our offended brother or sister is not the enemy. In this sports analogy, our brother or sister (or spouse) is not the opponent. Our true enemy is the Devil. His ability to confuse us is so slick. We work a great defense against an opponent that isn’t truly our opponent and we totally forget that the devil is at work. We are doing his work for him as we attack each other.
Take a look at the photo of x’s and o’s. I am no football expert, but this picture gives a great visual for understanding who we are really lining up against. The enemy would love for us to believe that both the x’s and o’s are people. He then becomes the spectator as we battle against each other. I would argue that we (as in “we the people”) are on one side. Let’s say we are the o’s, while our very real adversary, the devil, is the x’s. This brings new perspective to our relationship struggles. Those very people are actually lining up on the same side of the scrimmage line.
What sparked this thought? I was on my treadmill listening to scripture on my phone and hearing how Jesus did not defend himself and realizing that He truly understood that His battle was not with the people.
Our enemy is not as strong as he would have us think, but as my dad always said, “He is a foe to be contended with.” Foe for all the youngsters reading, simply means, your enemy. He is an enemy that deceived the angels. He is good at his craft.
Let’s not do his job for him. Let’s love each other.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Love is large and incredibly patient.[a] Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous[b] when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5 Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated[c] or quick to take offense.[d] 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty[e] and finds no delight in what is wrong.[f]