Duty begins with everything required by law, regulation and orders; but it includes much more than that. We do our work not just to the minimum standard, but also to the very best of our ability. Soldiers commit to excellence in all aspects of their professional responsibility so that when the job is done they can look back and say, “I couldn’t have given any more.”
Leaders take the initiative, figuring out what needs to be done before they are told what to do. Leaders take full responsibility for their actions and those of their subordinates. They never shade the truth to make the unit look good or to make subordinates feel good. Instead, he or she follows a higher duty. Leaders do not set the minimum standards as goals. Duty implies that one has no choice but to do what is morally and legally correct.
This is also true for believers. We have a duty to live up to the moral order that God has established from the foundations of the world. We must live by His standards and not what the world dictates. Paul said in
Jesus also commanded us to do certain things as believers. We are to be His witnesses and “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus modeled this value in His death on the cross. He was obedient to the Father because He knew He had to fulfill the duty God had sent Him to do.
