Well I find myself again drawing from the well of Sunday messages… it just seems that each week during the message something sparks ideas, much like reading about or watching games does…
This time the idea of “SPACING” came to mind… whenever teaching basketball it is imperative to teach spacing… typically it involves creating space (looking for openings) and/or owning space (getting to one’s spot)… but it is always intentional or deliberate…
When evaluating the defense, it is important to avoid traps. Every defensive scheme is designed to try to cut off the offense’s openings, and often designed to lead the players into situations with seemingly no way out… traps! Thus, great players read and avoid those situations via change of direction, passes, etc.
Spiritually, the enemy wants to lure us into traps… he is deceptive and the master of making things look like “openings’ only to pounce on us. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be sober, be vigilant” because our enemy is “seeking whom he may devour.”
The word “sober” has the idea of being calm and collected… The word “vigilant” means to be alert and cautious… In other words, like a great player, we need to look ahead at potential “traps” and act accordingly. Interestingly, the word “devour” has the idea of swallowing up something… sounds like a suffocating trap to me… Therefore, 1 Peter 5:9 starts by admonishing us to “Resist him”!
I plan to share a bit from the positive side of “spacing” next week… what to pursue, more than what to avoid. Yet, wisdom calls for us to evaluate things in our lives to see what is luring us away from God’s desired plan for our lives. And I am not speaking of special callings of times and places, but His desired will for how we conduct our day to day affairs. God’s Word has clear instruction… reminds me of the acronym B.I.B.L.E. = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth…
Here is the way Paul admonished us to “create space” in our lives: Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is…
Bottom line this week: Survey the floor (your life) and avoid the traps of the enemy…
Next week: Let’s look at spacing that helps us understand what The Coach desires for us…
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