The crowd is screaming. It’s a big game: a rivalry, a championship or just a great contest with a frenzied crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. The gym is filled with so much noise from the crowd, the band and the PA announcer. The coach, who has almost lost his voice, yells out to his players to make an adjustment, and the players respond. But how does the player even hear his coach among the chaos and the intense noise in his surroundings? Because he spends time with the coach in the weight room, at practice and maybe even in the classroom. Thus, he hears the voice of his coach day after day and recognizes his voice in the intensity of the game.

Here’s a heart check—do we do what pleases our coaches all the time or only when they are watching? Do we do the right thing just to win their favor or because it’s right? In Ephesians 6:6, Paul was rather direct with the people of Ephesus about their work ethic.

I often watch teams closely during practice and as they warm up prior to competitions. I see players who give a great effort when the coach is watching, but as soon as the coach’s head is turned, some of those players immediately start cutting corners and cheating on drills. Their hearts are not fully with their coaches or their teammates. They fail the heart check.