A
professional football player’s team was having a terrible season, losing week
after week. A reporter asked him how he stayed motivated to play hard and give
his best even though his team lost almost every game. He responded, “My dad is
watching that game. My mom is watching that game. You better believe I’m going
to do my best!” He recognized that there was more at stake than just winning or
losing. People were watching, and that reality always drove him to do his best.
Jesus
reminded us of this reality in the early portions of His Sermon on the Mount.
We should live our lives with a recognition that what we do is observed by
those around us—and this visible life makes a statement about our God. He said,
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). How does the light of our lives
shine? By bringing the heart and character of Christ into the situations that
engage us every day. By showing compassion as He did for the marginalized or
forgotten. By displaying concern for the Father’s name and reputation.
People
are watching us. The question is, What do they see?
Let your
light shine—whether you’re a candle in a corner or a lighthouse on a hill.
(RBC)
