Discipline: a Holistic Virtue

Discipline is another character virtue, tiny in its visibility, powerful in its results. Have you ever stopped to think about the connection between faith and discipline? About discipline in a holistic sense?  The centurion did.

Matthew 8: 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

A well-disciplined life displays an understanding of authority, wisdom, and follow-through. The centurion recognized the authority of Jesus to heal and wisely drew a parallel between Jesus’ authority in the spiritual realm and his own command of those serving under his authority.  Running the race of faith requires a holistic approach to discipline.

The Apostle Paul phrases it this way, 1 Corinthians 9: 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Ponder today: how to run with purpose in every step by excelling in the holistic virtue of discipline… of mind, heart, body, and will.

Bible character of the day: the centurion