"Basic Training: 'Honor and Discipline''
What words are resonating with you this morning?
Here is a little known fact about me: I almost joined the Navy.
A Naval officer tried to recruit me when I was in nursing school, saying that I could enter the Navy as a lieutenant if I joined the Navy Nurse Corps (this was back in the 80s).
The recruiter even came to my house to talk with me but when I discovered that I had to learn shoot weapons (guns freaked me out back then), I changed my mind!
Not only that, but I can't swim.
Still, I have always admired dedication to a cause and the discipline to stay ready to fight for it.
One morning as I was about to eat breakfast and exercise, 2 words keep echoing in my spirit: ''Honor'' and ''Discipline."
As Christians, our lives on Earth are basic training for eternity.
The Lord is our Commander. The Bible contains our marching orders and it tells us:
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Hebrews 4:13
Because we will give account for what we have done in these Earthly bodies someday, the wisest thing we can do is fix our hearts on honoring the Lord and ordering our lives with discipline (following a daily plan of activity).
The struggle is real, but it is also right.
"Basic Training: 'Honor and Discipline''
Living with Honor and Discipline
The concept of living in service to a righteous cause reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:2-4
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
As a committed follower of Jesus, you recognize that you may have some hard days.
However, you rely on the Lord's strength to get you through those days, believing that you are serving a great cause: To share Jesus with lost people who need salvation.
Otherwise, they will perish!
That is a honorable cause that leading a disciplined life supports.
"Basic Training: 'Honor and Discipline''
Follow with Jesus
When Jesus says ''Follow me,'' I have learned that it means ''Follow with me.''
Jesus doesn't throw you into the deep water of life and say, ''Swim kid!''
He is with you every step of the way, day-by-day, supplying what you need (peace, wisdom, strength, power, etc.) at the moment that you need it through the power of the Holy Spirit in you!
That is what makes His grace so amazing.
So, what words are resonating with you today? Please share in the comments!