Being Watched

Have you performed before an audience? Did you play sports in school, playing your games in front a crowd? Did you play in the school band, performing in parades? Were you in school plays, performing on a stage? Have you considered you are being watched by many right now?

When we play sports, we don’t focus on the crowd. We are far more focused on what is happening in the game. Yet, we may notice the crowd during a break in the game. When in a marching band, we may notice the crowd a little more. While performing on stage, we may not be able to see the crowd.

We cannot see the cloud of witnesses who watch us now. In fact, we may not think about them at all, or we may not believe they are watching. Yet, the writer of Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by them. His reference to the witnesses follows his description of several faithful people in chapter 11, making them the witnesses he is speaking about.

However, if we think about it, we are also surrounded by witnesses walking this earth today. Every day we interact with others. Whether we realize it or not, they are watching us. They accumulate evidence from our actions and speech. They compile this information, assess it, and form their perception of the kind of person we are.

Though we are being watched, it does not mean we are to put on an act. If we do, we are a hypocrite. We are to be who we are yet cast away the sin that entangles us to be better. We are to focus on Jesus and what He has done for us. By focusing on Jesus and asking Him to remove our sin from our lives, we can become the person God intends for us to be.

I pray we all realize we are being watched. I pray we focus our attention on Jesus. I pray each one of us seeks to be the person God intends us to be and asks him to remove our sin from our lives. Know you are being watched. Focus on Jesus. Be who God intends you to be. Ask God to remove your sin.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.