A leaders heart

His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 17:6

What is the difference between devotion and discipline? Is one more valuable than the other? Devotion is an overriding commitment to Christ and His way of doing things. It engages the heart, mind, and soul in learning the ways of the Lord and then applying them through our daily living. Devotion must be the driving force behind a disciple’s faith for them to persevere in Christ’s call on their life of being influential and impactful. Your devotion to God dictates how you will live your life.

Discipline, on the other hand, is the ability to stay focused on the task at hand. It finishes the assignment or completes the course. A disciplined person trains to improve their strength and self-control. They are religious at carrying out routines, fulfilling checklists, and getting things done. Discipline is designed to grow your faith, with regular readings from God’s Word, and engaging prayers of praise, thanksgiving, confession, and repentance.

However, we must make sure our discipline is driven by our devotion or we become judgmental, callous, and insensitive like a pharisee. Devotion to Christ first keeps our heart of faith full of grace, love, compassion, forgiveness, and truth. Discipline without devotion is like a billowing cloud that gives no refreshing rain. It can become so rigid in its rules that it causes decent and devoted people to flee. Disciplined leaders are wise to not substitute their warm devotion for cold discipline. So, apply devotion to both God and people. 

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

We need to be into practice directing our passionate devotion to focus on one thing. Like Paul, learn to channel all our energies into one endeavor, and see it through to the end. “Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah” (Acts 18:5). It is better to complete one task than to start a dozen and leave them all incomplete. Indeed, our devotion to Christ determines our discipline over the long term. Keep this your motivation, and discipline will follow. A heart devoted to the Lord’s ways does not stray away.