We think we are swimming in deep water, and then Jesus says stand up—then we find that we were still in the shallows.

All to often we play like little kids at the water's edge; laying on our stomach flailing our hands and feet making a big splash--just having fun. Something happens and we are afraid thinking we may drown, all the while the waters were the same depth. The ripples or a wave may have overtaken us, but all we had to do for safety was simply stand up to be assured the waters were still only ankle deep. 

My Daddy was a navy man. He taught me to swim at Norris lake in Georgia east of Atlanta. There used to be barrels out off shore at the beach that marked off the swimming area. He took me out to one of the barrels and set me up on it and pushed off. Now, There was never a doubt in my mind that my daddy loved me, but I was scared to death. He kept coaxing me to just slide off and come to him. What I did not know was that he was still standing flat footed on the bottom of the lake, and my daddy was not a tall man. I was never in danger. The purpose was to get me to trust both daddy and my own abilities. I did finally slip into the water after many tears. I did make the swim back to shore; it was not pretty or fast. I was never afraid of the water, but I was fearful to go out beyond those shallows. Some today would ridicule the way my daddy taught me to swim. I admire him for teaching me trust and confidence. The skills had already been imparted before we left the shore. He instilled the things that were lacking with that demonstration, and I never forgot. 

No one is really swimming in deep waters anymore. We are so consumed with things that do not last that we cannot be bothered to spend the time and effort required to study to show ourselves approved unto God. We are so busy trying to prove our worth in the World, that we have forgotten God and His WORD. God declared and demonstrated our worth when He sacrificed the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of all the World. God declared the worth of every man in the beginning when He made man in His image after His likeness. God made man to stand out in the midst of all of the Creation of God. The ransom of man was far above rubies; far greater than the blood of animals. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.  God alone has established the incalculable worth of every man: God set man's value before the foundation of the World when the pre-determinate counsel  and foreknowledge of God set the price of redemption at nothing less than the Blood of Christ--the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish. 

We are quick to lay the ax to the root of the tree, as the old preacher was fond of sayin'; "Ain't no other reason to cut down the tree, but to back up the water deep enough for Baptizing." We tend to stop at the Baptizing. We do not try to go beyond that first step in our Walk with God. We try to complete this pilgrimage without the most important thing; a growing relationship with God. You could not afford the price of freedom, but somehow you suppose that you can walk in the World without God our Savior. God I can't even Walk without you holding my hand.

Let God lead you into the deep waters--Waters to swim in. Stop playing like you are swimming in the shallows. Take those steps that lead you into the deep waters where you can truly grow in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. He LOVES you with an everlasting love. You are HIS priceless treasure, just as He can cause HIS servant to stand--He will also cause you to swim where you never dreamed it possible.

Ezekiel 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.