Three-and-D!

Basketball has undergone significant changes over the past two decades. The era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, the Detroit Pistons’ “bad boys,” and the dominant big men like Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and LeBron James is almost 42 years old. In the past, NBA teams favored certain types of players. However, the current archetype that teams most desire is the three-and-D player. This player is known for consistently hitting three-pointers and playing formidable defense. As a result, NBA teams actively trade, sign, and draft these types of players, often selecting them as first-round draft picks.

Last week, we discussed the enemy’s tactics. We identified his three strategies to lead us astray from the Heavenly Father: distraction, deception, and drifting. These are the enemy’s tools, and he uses them skillfully against us daily. Remember, the enemy is as smooth as a hot knife through butter and slicker than oil. His tactics are subtle yet highly destructive. How do you defend yourself against the enemy, who is known as Satan? You must become a three-and-D archetype player that NBA teams highly value. The word of God states it this way:

James 4:6-7 (NIV) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Our defense is clear: humble ourselves, submit to God, and resist the enemy! The enemy has his schemes, but our defense is more powerful than any of them. Let’s take this step-by-step so that we can be first-round draft picks of the Heavenly Father’s team.

        ⁃       First, let’s be humble. Scripture is very clear: the Heavenly Father opposes the proud.

        ⁃       Second, let’s submit ourselves to the creator of all things. By doing so, we will find peace and assurance in His sovereign plan.

        ⁃       Third, let’s resist the enemy. The enemy will try to convince us that the Heavenly Father is not listening, not close, or not reachable to us. But these are lies, and the enemy will use them against us to claim us in his world. The Heavenly Father is truth.

Scripture tells us that if we do these three things, the enemy will flee. So, does he just flee? Yes! Does he come back? Yes! Does the Heavenly Father ever stop fighting for us? No! Are we supposed to stop? No! NBA players didn’t start off as NBA players. Once they make it to the NBA, they work even harder to remain. This is the same mindset that we must have. We must have a never-quit attitude toward the kingdom of heaven.

Let me close with this. Most NBA players strive to win the championship and be enshrined in the hall of fame with the other greats. But we don’t strive to win the championship. We strive to be enshrined with the greats, who are in heaven. We strive daily to not only be drafted onto the Heavenly Father’s team but also to be enshrined with Him in heaven.

Next step:

How can you incorporate daily submission to God into your life, and what steps can you take to actively resist temptations that divert your focus from Him?

God bless you, God keep you. God loves you and I love you too!