Duty Bound
Robert E. Lee has been an example to me for several particular reasons. This is one of them. I just recently finished an A&E documentary on his profound life and it reminded me of an old biography I read years ago that also retold his life of duty. In both stories I learned the same view, Lee’s overriding virtue was his unalterable sense of steel-like duty. His life began in a well-positioned and well-known family in the 1800s. His father was a brash and impulsive officer for George Washington named “Light Horse Harry”. Harry had somewhat shameful financial problems and lost all his entire fortune ending in debtor’s prison. He was often away from home and so young Lee grew up being taught by his able mother, Ann Carter Lee, who was virtuous and wise, both of which Robert E. secured.
As Lee matured his entire and full life was a clear display of a humble man who embodied a deep and abiding commitment to his known responsibility and the fierce accomplishing of it. For example, he is the only student who as a student at West Point did not receive one demerit his entire collegiate career, which I am told, is almost impossible to achieve. He was a man totally devoted to the right moral way regardless of the bleak outcome or imminent hardship that was to assuredly follow. He was a man of honor, a man of duty.
In Christ’s life a strong man of the Roman military, a filthy pagan according to the Jewish view, came to ask for the health of his servant. Now this journey of duty is amazing in its truth. Military men are not accustomed to worry or be concerned about the life or health of any menial slave or worthless servant. His lifelong job was to kill and end life. And yet in Matthew 8:9 we find him asking for his servant’s life. And in so doing he makes an unusual statement. He tells Jesus that he was not worthy to have Christ come to his house so if he would just say the word then his servant would be healed. He publicly gives as his clear reason, “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Now this display is beyond regular virtue as Christ says that He has not found this type or amount of faith in all of Israel. Quite a statement. But pick apart the truth the Centurion showed as he makes his request of Jesus? It reveals a man of duty. Even though most Centurions did not care for servants, it was this ones belief that he was responsible to care for those under his authority. Just as he was a man under authority and can do as he wishes, he was bound by his duty. Because of this the soldier was willing to ask a lowly Jew for help. His brilliant honor was in the duty-bound responsibility.
He had a duty and he would accept no option but to accomplish it. It probably seemed foolish to his soldiers but he relinquished all supposed honor of position and earnestly pleaded with Christ for one who was his servant. Duty is like that. Position does not matter to duty, nor does acclaim. Duty is the determination to accomplish a God-given task. It realizes that God is sovereign and has placed an act of responsibility in its path. Humility then mothers a dutiful response. Therefore, duty knows it can be done, knows why it must be done, and knows when it is to be done. Duty is the virtue of great moral achievers. She accompanies both the great and small, the present and past. She is remembered well and reminds often.
Christ’s duty to God and man was to accomplish salvation. Thank God He fulfilled it.
Duty is the continuous drumbeat from humility’s march into battle. Are we in step?
As Lee matured his entire and full life was a clear display of a humble man who embodied a deep and abiding commitment to his known responsibility and the fierce accomplishing of it. For example, he is the only student who as a student at West Point did not receive one demerit his entire collegiate career, which I am told, is almost impossible to achieve. He was a man totally devoted to the right moral way regardless of the bleak outcome or imminent hardship that was to assuredly follow. He was a man of honor, a man of duty.
In Christ’s life a strong man of the Roman military, a filthy pagan according to the Jewish view, came to ask for the health of his servant. Now this journey of duty is amazing in its truth. Military men are not accustomed to worry or be concerned about the life or health of any menial slave or worthless servant. His lifelong job was to kill and end life. And yet in Matthew 8:9 we find him asking for his servant’s life. And in so doing he makes an unusual statement. He tells Jesus that he was not worthy to have Christ come to his house so if he would just say the word then his servant would be healed. He publicly gives as his clear reason, “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Now this display is beyond regular virtue as Christ says that He has not found this type or amount of faith in all of Israel. Quite a statement. But pick apart the truth the Centurion showed as he makes his request of Jesus? It reveals a man of duty. Even though most Centurions did not care for servants, it was this ones belief that he was responsible to care for those under his authority. Just as he was a man under authority and can do as he wishes, he was bound by his duty. Because of this the soldier was willing to ask a lowly Jew for help. His brilliant honor was in the duty-bound responsibility.
He had a duty and he would accept no option but to accomplish it. It probably seemed foolish to his soldiers but he relinquished all supposed honor of position and earnestly pleaded with Christ for one who was his servant. Duty is like that. Position does not matter to duty, nor does acclaim. Duty is the determination to accomplish a God-given task. It realizes that God is sovereign and has placed an act of responsibility in its path. Humility then mothers a dutiful response. Therefore, duty knows it can be done, knows why it must be done, and knows when it is to be done. Duty is the virtue of great moral achievers. She accompanies both the great and small, the present and past. She is remembered well and reminds often.
Christ’s duty to God and man was to accomplish salvation. Thank God He fulfilled it.
Duty is the continuous drumbeat from humility’s march into battle. Are we in step?
posted by ipastorwill at 3:12 PM
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