Discipline from within and from without

"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered." - Hebrews 5:8

In the military you accept the discipline of obedience when you enlist, swearing allegiance to your country and flag and to those authorized to represent them. You learn to stand tall, throw back your shoulder, and bark, "Yes, Sir!" on cue. Failure to comply means there is a price to pay: scrub the barracks floor with a toothbrush, run 10 kilometers on your bare feet, stand at attention in the broiling sun, or get tossed into the stockade.

There’s another kind of discipline–the kind that takes doctors out on a call in the middle of the night, keeps a scholar up nights studying far into the early hours of the morning, and motivates mothers to respond to the cry of their babies. The first is imposed by others; the second, self-imposed.

What’s the difference? Military discipline leaves a mark on a person, but when the four-year hitch in the military is over, the rigid discipline is often left behind. Self-discipline, though, is a lifestyle, a motivation from within, a mindset that is dictated by conscience or desire, not fear or force. It feeds on duty or the desire to accomplish something worthwhile and lasting.

In the military the important thing is to obey orders. You don’t need to see the whole picture. That’s not your responsibility. You are accountable only for complying. You have confidence that your immediate superior knows what he or she is doing. You bark, "Yes, sir!" and get on with it.

Now before I take this any further, may I ask, "Which type of obedience does a Christian face when it comes to obedience to what God asks?" Is the discipline of the Christian life a voluntary one? Or does God force you to knuckle under, much as does a drill sergeant? Before you answer, think of several things.

First, remember, you have a will of your own. God doesn’t force you to walk the path of obedience or leave the world behind to take up your cross. Jesus stands at the crossroads and says simply, "Follow me!" It’s your decision, your choice.

Some things have to be taken by faith–things which we accept because we believe God knows what is best for His children. We trust and obey. That’s what faith is all about. Yet there is something else to be considered. When God says, "Do this and live!" He means just that. Some things are not on a "Well, this would be nice if you did it" basis.

In reading through the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, I’ve been impressed by how God repeatedly asked His children for just one thing: simple obedience. Complying was difficult and often fragmentary. At times, they refused, assuming that they knew better than God, and for this there was a price to pay. God never said, "I guess we will forget about it this time." These are consequences–good or bad–for every choice and action.

Jesus Himself faced difficult tasks. Hebrews says He learned obedience through the things that He suffered. He gave us a model and taught us that simple obedience to what God asks will never be a disappointment. Once you are convinced that God knows what will happen in the future and what is best for His children, learning to walk in simple obedience becomes a joy, not a chore. - Resource reading: Proverbs 3:1-14

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