“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:28-31
If God left your side today, would you still maintain your righteousness? What about your integrity? If God sat on the sidelines watching you, would He be proud of your actions? What we do when others are watching is one thing: and, how we act when we think no one is watching is another.
Do you remember when your parents left you alone for the first time? If you were an only child, you were in charge of the house; or, if you were even a year older than your siblings were, you were responsible for their behavior. You may have been the kind of child that lost his or her mind, tearing up the house, hoping to restore it back to splendor prior to your parents return, like the proverbial story of The Cat in The Hat. On the other hand, you may have been the child who somehow turned into your parents and assumed the role of responsibility they believed you were capable of; either way, you had a choice, and clearly understood the consequences of your actions.
As Christians, we are always under scrutiny. Our actions belie everything about us, especially when we believe no one is watching. Jesus offered a parable in Matthew 21:28-31 where he talks about two sons accepting the responsibility of working in the vineyard. One says he will not work in the vineyard, but repents and does so. The other says he will, but does not. The question today is, which one is better? The Christian, who accepts the responsibility and principles of being a Christian and falls short, yet acknowledges his or her weakness, repenting to follow its principles once again. Or, the one who accepts the responsibility and acts accordingly in the presence of all, yet purposely continues to be evil in the dark when they believe no one is watching. A word to the wise—Beware!
Remember, —even when we believe no one is watching--God watches all. L.
Study Reference: Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 23:28
From:"When No One Sees." n The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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