Listen to these familiar phrases:
“Take a step of faith…”
“Make a leap of faith…”
“Put one foot in front of the other…”
“Every great journey begins with a single step…”
Are you tired of the clichés yet? We have all said and heard statements like these so often that they are now actually counterproductive when we hear them because they sound overly simplistic. I’m going to add another one to the list and then frame it up with scriptural context in hopes that you might consider it as legitimate counsel for your life today. Here it is: “You need to get your feet wet…”
Get Them Wet To Witness God’s Power {Joshua 3:14-16}
“When the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.”
God’s destiny for His people rested on the other side of a swollen river. God had commanded them to cross over but they would never survive unless there was some sort of bridge. God declared that He would make a way and that they would experience their open door of passage as soon as the priests feet touched the water. Here is a grand test of faith: step into the water, get your feet wet, move forward against seemingly improbable odds and obey your faithful God. Your obedience will be met with His omnipotence. You don’t need more details, you need to use the faith He’s already supplying you.
Get Them Wet To Do The Impossible {Matthew 14:25-29}
“In the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.”
Nearly every time I’ve heard this passage preached the focus is placed on Peter sinking in the storm after he takes his eyes off of Christ. That’s a crying shame because we almost shrug off the fact that Peter walked on top of the ocean in the middle of the storm. The best I can tell, only Peter and the Son of God have ever accomplished that and we Monday morning quarterbacks have the audacity to criticize him for sinking. While all the others sat in the boat whimpering, Peter could not contain his desire to be with Jesus and asked permission to get his feet wet and walk on the waves. I wonder how many amazing opportunities we miss because the reasoning in our minds outvotes the passion of our hearts. My prayer is that God will allow me opportunities to risk sinking for the sheer exhilaration of the potential to do the impossible as I run to my Lord.
Get Them Wet To Experience His Service To You {John 13:4-7}
“He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Grace repeatedly teaches us that it is not about what we do for the Lord but, rather, what He does for us. Proud people (like Simon Peter in the above passage) have a hard time humbling themselves and receiving the investment of Christ. We like the strength, not the smallness. We like the action, not the stillness. We like to be the ones sacrificing for Him, working off some debt we assume we can pay. Yet the Son of God needs nothing from you. Again, He needs NOTHING. It may appear spiritual for you to refuse what He offers because you prefer the position of being the one giving to Him. That attitude is not spiritual at all. You are always the needy one. You are always the one who qualifies as a recipient of His ministry. Take off your sandals and sit down. Remain still. Let His capable hands minister to you, taking away your filth. It is you who has required His attention and help. Until you get your feet wet in the basin of His humbling ministry to you, then you will stand in your dirty place of pride, wrongly believing that you have done well to refuse His cleansing.
Get Them Wet Lose Your Pride {2 Kings 5:11-14}
Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
A final word to each of us. When God cuts off all other options and makes it clear that your greatest need is available through His only offer – get your feet wet. Naaman was rich, powerful and arrogant. He also happened to have a disease that only God’s prophet could cure. The prophet told him to go dip himself in the Jordan River a total of seven times and his leprosy would be gone forever. Naaman was insulted because God’s ways were not in line with Naaman’s ways. He was angry, indignant and perilously close to walking away from this last chance at life. It was a small, insignificant servant of his who spoke reasonably to him as Naaman weighed the options. He told Naaman to listen to the prophet even though the instructions seemed silly. Naaman agreed to humble himself and do things according to the word of the Lord. He got his feet wet and, after the seventh dip in the appointed waters, Naaman’s miracle came to him in fullness. Don’t allow your pride keep you on dry land. You will certainly retain control if you choose to do so… but you will also have to retain the thing which is killing you. Naaman humbled himself in a moment of faith, trusted God’s messenger, got his feet wet and went home a different man.
So which will it be for you today? Dry land or wet feet.