“Walking Wet” by Justin March

“One of the first
elements of our Baptism is to daily remember it. We walk wet. Walking wet is a
daily remembrance of where the real power lies. And it is a daily effort to
walk in obedience-doing what you are able to do. This is the peace of Christ.
It is an awareness that Jesus does the heavy lifting-but we still have a role
to play. Remembering your Baptism brings light and life in the face of darkness
and death. Walking wet is our practice of living with the knowledge that even
as the weight of life crushes us it will not and cannot crush him.” An excerpt from “Following the Master” by Dr.
Scott Ness

What happens when you
forget to water your plants? The soil dries out, the roots become shallow, and
the plant begins to starve. Devoid of the moisture needed to survive, the
leaves wilt, the color fades, and the stalks become brittle. And if you ignore
the fact that your plant needs water for too much longer, it eventually dies,
from the inside out, and you are left with nothing but a shell of what was once
a vibrant and beautiful creation.

Can this happen to us?
Is it plausible to think that we can get so wrapped up in this chaotic world
that we forget the promises we made in our Baptism? Do we begin to dry out? Do
our roots become shallow, our colors fade, and our bodies brittle with the lack
of moisture that only God can provide?

I admit, there are
times I allow multiple days to pass by without receiving moisture in my life. I
go through the motions, I allow the busyness of life to take over, and I do not
think twice about the promises I made in my Baptism. Devoid of the moisture
needed to carry out God’s will, my soul begins to die, and what is left is just
a shell of what was once His vibrant and beautiful creation. And without the
nourishment from the waters of my Baptism, I am no longer able to flourish and
blossom.

It is in times like
these that we are reminded to “walk wet.” We are to remember our Baptisms, find
peace in Christ, and understand we have a role to play in His world. We are to
bring light to the darkness, we are asked to comfort the sick and the lost, and
we are challenged to love all our brothers and sisters as Jesus loves us. But
without that moisture, without that nourishment, and without that guidance, we
become devoid of the roots needed to become the disciples God needs us to be.

So, pick up your
Bibles, watch a sermon online, listen to an encouraging podcast, and pray.
Volunteer your time, reach out to a loved one, and forgive someone who does not
deserve it. And remember the promises you made in your Baptism, daily, so that
your roots are strong, and your color is vibrant. Allow the water to rush over
you, soak in, and make you clean in the eyes of your maker. And allow it to
nourish you so your branches reach out to others and bring them closer to God.

If you are feeling a
little dry, remember to “walk wet” this week. There is power in the waters of
your Baptism, and “walking wet” will give you the nourishment you need to live
out the mission God is calling you to fulfill. With strong roots, vibrant
color, and extended branches, you become the disciple God needs you to be. And
when others see the beautiful creation God has bestowed within you, it is then
you have the chance to give them the “water” they need that brings them closer
to His glorious fountain!