Dodgeball Defense vs. Offense

Yesterday, when talking with my child, I came on a--did God give it to me, or did I concoct the concept on my own? -- thinking about the comparison of dodgeball with the spiritual life. "Which do you prefer playing?" I asked. On the inside, you've got to always be thinking of running away from the ball, not being hit, sometimes catching what is thrown at you. On the outside, you don't have to think of protecting yourself at all, just throwing the ball & HITTING those on the inside.

The Christian life, if lived in a negative posture of NOT DOING THE WRONG THINGS,of NOT MAKING MISTAKES, of NOT causing offense, etc..., can be pretty suffocating. If it "takes a positive, offensive posture," however, it can be thrilling. God, fill my heart with joy! Answer this-or-that prayer! How can I make so-and-so happy? How can things in my life--computer, money, studies, English, leadership, words (speaking/writing abilities), time, health, friends, music, etc...ALL BE USED to gain more of God? Living life "in defense" will always involve some sort of reservation to live responsibly, uprightly; but when "in offense", you can GO 100% FOR GOD! It's a let-'er-rip mentality!

Man's natural thinking says too much bother; I want to do as I want to do, and no one can tell me how to live. But that's just "unrestriction to be unhappy" for very temporary, fleeting and unsatisfying, sometimes detrimental and dangerous, for-the-moment sense of pleasure & "freedom". Going hard after God is a VERY "restrictive"-on-the-outside liberty (similar to wearing a parachute when jumping from a plane, wearing an oxygen-giving and pressurized space suit when walking on the moon?)

I can do ALL I want to do, be totally free from any shackles about pleasing MAN, and procure satisfactions and joys that REALLY satisfy, that REALLY taste good and doesn't turn to cardboard or maggots after awhile, that REALLY bring out the "AHHH" an iced tea commercial claims.

Lord, let us see You've commanded us to be happy in You, & NOTHING ELSE WILL DO! May we be living advertisements of the Lord Jesus Christ, to proclaim an AHHH satisfaction and a "taste me" allurement!


"DELIGHT thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Ps. 37:4)

"My soul shall be SATISFIED as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall PRAISE thee with joyful lips." (Ps. 63:5)

"He hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall SEE it, and FEAR, and shall TRUST in the LORD." (Ps. 40:3)