Early Christians started with the sign of the fish – to denote fishers of men – a symbol to other Christ-followers that they were around safe people. The fish might also have indicated where the secret location for worship was in the catacombs of Rome.

Then came the sign of the Cross. Some believers today make the sign of the cross as a symbol of piety and devoutness. The cross adorns many of our churches, and is a favored pendant for necklaces.

Nowadays we have the cross, the fish, the dove, the olive branch (from Noah), the Dogwood Flower (from folklore), the Star of David (a nod to our Jewish roots), and three rings intertwined as a symbol of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The problem is – we’re seeing these EVERYWHERE!

Christians – many of them with questionable taste – have them plastered everywhere:
• on their door knockers
• on their living room lamps
• on their phone book covers
• on their bumper stickers
• on their dog's and cat's collars!

It’s like they’re saying, “Hey look! I’m a Christian.” Then they blithely speed through traffic anyway.

Churches, it seems, have forever been gussying up the entrance requirements to be in our churches:

“Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t cuss, don’t chew –
and don’t hang around with those who do!”

Let’s face it – Christians tend to be the rednecks of the religious world!

But God just wanted – all He EVER wanted – was our obedience. It was disobedience that estranged us from Him, so obedience to His commands was not too much to ask! You want to know one of the secrets of the Kingdom of God? Obedience!

In Exodus 19:5-6, we read God’s words to the Israelites: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

IF you will obey me – and IF you keep to our agreement – then you’ll be my treasure!

God simply wanted their obedience.

Receiving and partaking in God’s marvelous approval and blessing was only available through their complete compliance, submission and conformity on top of or in addition to their belief in Him.

It took more than just saying – “Yeah – I believe in God.” It took obedience to God’s commands ON TOP OF that belief.

Leviticus is clear as well. In Chapter 26 of this book of law, we find God saying much the same thing: If you do what I say – you get these blessings – and they’re wonderful blessings. Then God says – if you choose NOT to keep my commands, then this is what I will do to you – and He lists a bunch of curses that the people will face.

Here’s what I need you to see – these are people who believed in God and loved God but wouldn’t be obedient to His commands. Just BELIEVING in God and LOVING Him wasn’t enough – God wanted complete obedience.

Jeremiah the prophet came along about 600 years after God gave Moses the Law. Jeremiah also told the people to obey God fully and keep His covenant, so that then, they would be His treasured possession.

Jeremiah faced a series of Kings of the southern Kingdom of Judah – Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

He explained to them what happened to the northern Kingdom of Israel. Israel gave themselves to other gods and failed to keep God’s commands – so God sent the entire nation off into captivity in Assyria.

God used the prophet Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah, the southern half of the split Kingdom, that the same fate awaited THEM because they failed to keep their commands.

Jeremiah even used the same words we already read in Exodus and Leviticus: “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the says I command you, that it may go well with you.” (Jeremiah 7:23)

God simply wanted their obedience added to their faith. That was then – what about for us NOW?

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. . .”

Why? “. . . so that [you and I] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. .” (2 Timothy 3:17)

That passage is no more true than as it applies here in this teaching about following God’s path.

We’ve talked about secret entry codes and words and requirements. . . when all God wanted then – and now – is our obedience to His commands.

Have you ever really stopped to think what it means to be a “disciple?”

One dictionary simply said that a disciple was “one who believes in and helps disseminate the teachings of a master.” I think that definition is lacking, and takes all the wind and the flavor and the true meaning out of the word.

"Disciple" comes from the Latin word discipulus meaning “pupil” or “student” and the Latin word discere meaning “to learn.”

The words discipline, disciplinary, disciplinarian all come from these root words.

“Disciples” are people who are active adherents, believers, devotees, and fanatics who live with, and study under, the teachings of a Master.

“Disciples” are people who are trying to become just like their Master.

“Disciples” train and study to improve in their understanding and devotion to their Master.

“Disciples” systematically learn to control their behavior to obtain total obedience to their Master.

Are YOU a disciple of Jesus? Are you of the first variety – the kind who just believes in the Master? Or are you of the real variety – the kind of disciple who is an active adherent, a fanatic who is trying to become just like the Master, and is learning to control your behavior to obtain total obedience to Jesus Christ?

Do you have FAITH – or do you have faith and OBEDIENCE?

The second variety is what Jesus demands. It’s what we call becoming an “Unconditional Follower of Jesus Christ.” Unconditional – totally, categorically, absolutely, and unreservedly devoted in our following the Master.

When you follow the Master – you grow to be LIKE HIM. . . when you go your own way – you grow AWAY FROM HIM.

Jesus – our Master – lived out the fulfillment and explanation of God’s earlier words in Exodus and Leviticus and through the prophet Jeremiah.

He didn’t change God’s instructions about obedience and faith – Jesus just gave us a better understanding, and showed us how it fit the New Covenant – this New Testament world we’re living in.

Read Jesus’ words to us – and see if His words are similar to God’s earlier words. When Jesus left us in charge of His Kingdom and His ministry here on earth, He gave us these simple instructions: “. . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always. . .” (Matthew 28:20)

God said “Obey me and I will be your God.”

Jesus clarified it “Teach them about obeying me – and I’ll be with you through it all!”

When Jesus was teaching His disciples about obedience – He said to “. . . seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. . .” (Matthew 6:33) Everything else in life comes after that.

God had said to His people earlier: “Walk in the ways I command you – that it may go well with you.”

Jesus improved it to “Seek God first, and everything else gets taken care of for you.”

Do you see this? Jesus was teaching obedience and surrender! It’s not easy.

Jeremiah didn’t find obeying God all that easy. In Jeremiah, chapters 36-39 we read about Jeremiah’s plight.

God spoke to the people of Judah, but they just wouldn’t listen. They chose to go off and do their one thing in disobedience to God.

So God told Jeremiah to write down all the instructions He’d given since King Josiah to the present day (about 33 years) and give it to the present king.

Jeremiah did it – and gave it to King Jehoiakim and warned the king to obey God.

Jehoiakim burned the scroll, so God had Jeremiah write it all down again. Thirty-three years worth of instructions.

Jeremiah faced HUGE opposition as he told the kings and the people about being obedient to God. He was put into prison; he was lowered into the deep mud of a cistern. The kings questioned Jeremiah – and every time, he told them what God wanted: obedience.

It took courage for Jeremiah to follow God’s path. But he was obedient. It takes courage for us to follow God’s path and grow to be like Jesus – but we need to do it.

Jesus lived out obedience and surrender, and He showed us how to do it.

On the night Jesus was arrested and taken to be tried and ultimately crucified, He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying.

His prayer was very emotional and heartfelt – and even had a plea: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me. . .” [Don’t make me go through this painful torture and death!] But Jesus went on to say these important words: “. . . yet not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

What’s the secret for life connected to God? What’s the secret to following God’s path? Obedient surrender to HIS will and HIS commands.

Earlier I said that God had made it clear that in order for the people to receive and partake in God’s blessings, they had to obey Him in addition to believing in Him.

The blessing was conditioned on obedience on top of the faith of the people. It was a lot more than just saying – “I believe in God” - it also took obedience to God’s commands.

Jesus teaches us that participation in God’s divine blessing results in faith being FOLLOWED BY obedience! Instead of God’s blessing being conditioned on obedience ADDED to faith – our faith should PRODUCE obedience.

Same ingredients – different emphasis; but faith and obedience are as important now was they were then.

Before, obedience was a CONDITION for God to give His blessing. Now, rather than obedience being a CONDITION for us, it’s a natural result and a willing surrender and sacrifice that we make out of our love and respect for Him.

And obedience and surrender to following God’s path requires adopting and following some healthy spiritual routines – or “discplines.”

What did Jesus teach us?

• Love your enemies. . .
• Pray. Go into your room, close the door and pray in secret to your Father.
• Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.
• Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. . .
• If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow.
• Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. . .
• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
• “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

There’s more – a LOT more – but the important thing is that all of Jesus’ teachings and commands are listed in God’s Word – the Bible. Everything He taught us and commanded us is written down for us to see and study. And everything He taught us falls into six basic healthy spiritual routines:

1. Worship God
2. Love God and Love People
3. Grow to be like Christ
4. Belong to the community of faith – the Body of Christ
5. Serve Him and people everywhere
6. Tell others about your faith in Christ.

May I suggest that the best ways to get into these healthy spiritual routines is to do the following:

• pray - spend time in conversation with your Heavenly Father each and every day –
it’s part of the UPWARD dimension of connecting with Him. . .
• get into God’s Word regularly – this is part of the INWARD dimension of
developing your inner being. . . and,
• commit to growing together in the Body of Christ – part of the OUTWARD dimension
of belonging to one another.

Following God’s path is difficult – and it requires a great deal of courage. But, the courage we need can be ours through Christ – courage to follow God’s path, even when it’s difficult.

Will you commit to following God’s path – even when it gets difficult?

Will you commit to being an unconditional follower – a disciple seeking the teachings of the Master, Jesus Christ?

Will you get into God’s Word, will you spend time in conversation with Him, will you commit to being a part of the Body of Christ and allow them to challenge you and grow you in the same way that iron sharpens iron? (Proverbs 27:17)

There’s a freedom, a joy, a completeness, and a sense of connection to Jesus – when you follow His path. Enjoy the journey!