The Power of Who’s Watching
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24
If you know sports, you know what third string means. It means you rarely, if ever, get in the game. I was third string myself until my senior year of college basketball, and I can tell you firsthand, it is a tough spot to be in.
There is a story about a third-string football player who spent four years on the team without seeing real game time. Then his team made it to a bowl game. Right before they left, his coaches pulled him aside with heartbreaking news: his father had passed away. They told him to go home and be with his family, not to worry about the game.
He did just that. He honored his dad, stayed with his family, and attended the memorial. But something stirred in him on game day. He showed up, suited up, and walked right to his coach. “Coach, I have to play today,” he said with absolute focus. Shocked, the coach put him on special teams to let him contribute. First play, he sprints downfield, nails the returner, causes a fumble, and recovers it.
By the end of the game, he had played offense, defense, and special teams. He was unstoppable. He was named MVP. But when the game ended, no one could find him for interviews. He was down in the endzone, on one knee, tears pouring down his face.
The coach finally pulled him up and said, “Son, I’ve never seen you play like that.” The player looked him in the eye and said, “Coach, my dad was blind. He came to every game my whole life, but he never saw me play. This was the first time he watched me play, because now he’s in heaven. I had to play today because my daddy was watching.”
Let that sink in. Today, remember who is watching you. You are seen, known, and cheered on by your Heavenly Father. Whatever you are facing, whatever you are doing, do it with everything you have. Not for human applause, but because your Father is watching, and that changes everything.
If you know sports, you know what third string means. It means you rarely, if ever, get in the game. I was third string myself until my senior year of college basketball, and I can tell you firsthand, it is a tough spot to be in.
There is a story about a third-string football player who spent four years on the team without seeing real game time. Then his team made it to a bowl game. Right before they left, his coaches pulled him aside with heartbreaking news: his father had passed away. They told him to go home and be with his family, not to worry about the game.
He did just that. He honored his dad, stayed with his family, and attended the memorial. But something stirred in him on game day. He showed up, suited up, and walked right to his coach. “Coach, I have to play today,” he said with absolute focus. Shocked, the coach put him on special teams to let him contribute. First play, he sprints downfield, nails the returner, causes a fumble, and recovers it.
By the end of the game, he had played offense, defense, and special teams. He was unstoppable. He was named MVP. But when the game ended, no one could find him for interviews. He was down in the endzone, on one knee, tears pouring down his face.
The coach finally pulled him up and said, “Son, I’ve never seen you play like that.” The player looked him in the eye and said, “Coach, my dad was blind. He came to every game my whole life, but he never saw me play. This was the first time he watched me play, because now he’s in heaven. I had to play today because my daddy was watching.”
Let that sink in. Today, remember who is watching you. You are seen, known, and cheered on by your Heavenly Father. Whatever you are facing, whatever you are doing, do it with everything you have. Not for human applause, but because your Father is watching, and that changes everything.
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1 Comment
My Father is watching. I heard yesterday the lyric in a song that said He loves the worst part of myself. That’s a hard truth to understand but truth nonetheless. Don’t grow weary in doing good for in due time… I figure that knowing myself at my worst can be a baseline. No expectations or pressure on me to being anything else. I see opportunities. One moment at a time I have a chance to do something different. It brings me joy each time I do. For me I think that He’s cheering me on and helping me because He knows it makes me happy. I believe He is already happy with me.