Highest Level

In the endeavors we undertake, we can be motivated to do our very best for the Lord.  We have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the ability to live in a manner that pleases God and calls attention to His presence within us.  A certain well-known major league baseball player has adopted this verse as his favorite - this passage from Colossians 3 (ESV) contains the verse:
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23 speaks of working heartily - another translation says, "with all your heart." That's the favorite verse of the Los Angeles Dodgers' star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who will be hanging up the cleats and retiring when the Dodgers season ends, which might just be after winning their second-straight World Series; they're already on their way to the National League Championship.

A recent Movieguide article related this:

“We still have a lot to accomplish, obviously this month, and the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to anybody for accomplishing our ultimate goal: to win the last game of the season. So, we’re going to get through this today, and then we’re going to go win the rest of the games and be good,” he continued.

He left the media with his favorite Bible verse, which is Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

“That’s what I’ve tried to do. Just work at it. Just work at it and love it,” Kershaw emphasized. “And so, I’m really not sad. I’m really not. I’m really at peace with this. It’s just emotional, and I’ve tried to hold it together.”

Another Movieguide article references Kershaw's involvement in reinstating Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium after the team had chosen to invite to its Pride Night a group that mocked Catholicism.  The article noted:

Following the game that Sunday afternoon, Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, joined a live panel Q&A to share their faith.

“We have a lot of guys in all different walks of their faith on the team. To be able to stand up for Jesus and talk about your testimony is pretty cool…Jesus helps us through tough times, with our family struggles, whatever it may be. And ultimately, our hope is in Jesus,” he stated, according to Religion Unplugged.

Also on track for its first-ever World Series berth are the Seattle Mariners, featuring catcher Harry Ford.  A Movieguide article reported:

Seattle Mariners catcher Harry Ford puts his trust in God, not baseball.

“Who’s to say why the big leagues are supposed to be better? Like, you don’t know what you’re going to experience, what’s going to go down, who you’re going to be, who’s going to come, like, all the extra things that come with the big leagues, you know?” Ford began to explain on the “Get in the Game” podcast.

“Like, we have no idea, but that’s why we trust the Lord with it. And that’s, I think, a big freedom in following Jesus. ‘Jesus, you have my life. I’ve come to realize that you are way more important than any baseball game I’ll ever play.’ And it’s so cool because we, I mean, me and you, we love baseball, right? And we get really fired up and really competitive, and it’s like such an amazing thing to go out there and play and compete, but He’s just infinitely times better. And like, we can’t even imagine the things that He has stored up for us. And I think that’s just so cool that we get to just like kind of let go and trust Him with that,” the catcher continued.

The article also said: "This season, Ford, who describes himself as a “Jesus Follower” in his Instagram bio, partnered with Water Mission to “Swing for Safe Water,” an initiative that for “every home run I hit, I’ll be making a gift to Water Mission to help fight the global water crisis.”  

Like Ford, Clayton Kershaw uses his platform as a baseball player to touch people's lives through his charity, Kershaw's Challenge.

Of course we can ask ourselves what platform God has given to us to reach others. Certainly our personal interactions each day can reflect the presence of Christ.  Our involvement in church, civic organizations, and our occupations all provide avenues through which Jesus can be lifted up.  As these baseball players and other sports figures who testify to their faith in Christ can remind us, our jobs are what we do, but being a Christian is who we are.

We can always make sure we are seeking and finding our identity in the Lord Most High and reflect His priority as the Lord of our lives.  When He is directing our steps and we are walking in obedience to Him, He will produce fruit for His glory, and we can experience the satisfaction of loving and serving Him.  He also enables to live our lives at the highest level, because we are reliant on Him for the power to do that.