Discipline and obedience

Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescents has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.   2 Timothy 4:10

The word obedience seems to speak of dependence, of not thinking for yourself and not being in control. And anything that causes us to lose control seems to stick in the craw of the human race.

We admire those who do have discipline in their lives – the Olympian who trains for years, the arctic explorer who pushes the limits of survival and the struggling merchant who refuses to quit and eventually makes it over the top. Yes, we all want to be like that.

So why don’t we have more who make it to the top? The price is just too great. The path of obedience is painful instead of joyful, and the discipline necessary to achieve is lacking. We’ll take the shortcut if that will work. Bring on the fix that is guaranteed to succeed.

God expects no less than the world does when it comes to winning or reaching the top. “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescents has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia,” wrote Paul to Timothy, explaining why his fair-weather companions had quit and gone home (see 2 Timothy 4:10). Paul commended Timothy to the Philippians saying, “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21).

God’s standard is unchanging. Never forget discipline and obedience are inseparable for anyone who wants to get to the top.

Train yourself to be godly, for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:7b-12