Someone Is Watching

Have you ever noticed that some people only act a certain way when they know that they are being watched?

I can relate to this. Going back years ago, I can remember sitting in a classroom at school along with all of my peers. On occasion, the teacher would have to leave the classroom to go and get something for a few minutes, and they would always tell us to stay in our seats and not get into any trouble; to behave ourselves until they got back. But everyone knows what happens after the teacher leaves. The very second that students are left by themselves, paper airplanes will begin to soar across the room, kids will start racing around the desks, hair might be pulled, etc. It will be only when they hear the incoming footsteps of the returning teacher that they will scramble back into their seats and try to appear that they had been sitting there the entire time.

But that isn’t true obedience. That is eye service, only obeying when someone is watching.

To obey means to do as ordered, or to act according to the bidding of someone.

Philippians 2:12  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Paul had praised the Philippians because they were obedient both when he was there and also when he wasn’t. They were truly obedient. It didn’t matter if Paul was there watching over them, they were just as obedient to God’s word when he had left.

The Apostles and disciples of the Lord, when Jesus left to go back to be with His Father, they continued in the teachings in which He had instructed them. They didn’t need to have someone to stand at their side telling them what they needed to do. They didn’t need to have someone come and check on them every day to see if they were getting the things done that they had been told to do. They knew it in their hearts and they did it.

When Paul sent Timothy to go preach, he could have peace of mind knowing that Timothy was going to get done what he had been sent out to do. Timothy wasn’t a man who needed to be held by the hand to make sure that he had kept up on his task. He was self motivated and knew his calling. And that was Paul’s wish for everyone in the church. He wanted the people to be obedient to the Lord’s command, whether or not they were being watched or not.

Similarly, someone can go to church every Sunday for years and years, but it is just a religious thing for them. They might not really believe fully in their hearts, just going to have the appearance of holiness and goodness, and then they live the next six days however they want. Then Sunday comes around once again and they dress up nice, and sit in the pew, having a show of godliness, but the rest of the week “in works they deny Him.”

Titus 1:16  “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Always remember that God sees everything that we do. Those close to us and those around us may not know what we do while we are alone, but God does. He knows if we are obedient or not, He knows the state of our hearts. 

So which kind of person are you? Are you like one of those children who get up as soon as the teacher leaves, or are you one who does what you are told, even when no one is watching? Because Someone is always watching.

In Christ,

Andrew