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One of the activities I love to do is take my dogs to the coast. The girls love running in the water. I generally find a section that is uninhabited, let them off their leashes, and off they go--running and chasing each other up and down the coast, through the water.

However, to say that Kasey and Annie love the coast is not to say that they have always loved the coast. Yes, they've always loved water; especially Kasey, who loved to wade into the lake after ducks. But I still very much remember our first trip to the coast: this was something different! This wasn't placid lake water--this water was moving! Unfortunately, they didn't like the whole "water coming at them" scenario. In fact, on that first visit, I had to find a little calm stream before they felt comfortable getting wet at all. In time, though, not only did they get used to the waves, but they came to love the ocean. Now they can't wait to get out of the car and get wet!

There are many of us who approach faith, and especially baptism, in the same manner. Calm, placid lake water--and only for wading, thank-you-very-much--is just fine. But talk about going deeper in the faith, or even baptism--that's a whole new paradigm. And it can be scary, taking that plunge--that step of surrender--into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 tells us that being baptized is something like--but more than!--being washed by water. Not only are our sins washed away, but we make a pledge to God: "And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…" The author of Hebrews 10:22 says something very similar: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

It can be scary, stepping towards moving water, moving faith. But the joy that comes from getting wet--running up and down the banks of Godly faith--that is the great adventure. That is the chance well worth taking.

In Christ,

--Pastor Dan