Sitting at IF:Gathering, watching a fully clothed grown man plop into a kiddy pool while speaking in a posh hotel is something that sticks with you. Mike Todd’s message on Christ being our anchor has been ‘swimming’(get it?) in my mind since.  He got back out only to throw a heavy anchor into the flimsy pool, and although it was visually entertaining, the concept of an anchor in shallow water is pointless. His purpose amidst the humor was to portray that Christ is meant to be our Anchor, but we oftentimes don’t wade in deep enough water to even need one because an anchor in a kitty pool is moot.  

I’ve been thinking about where I am today, and whether I’m in the kiddy pool or in deep waters.   

In Matthew 19:16, Jesus gives us the parable of a rich man refusing to follow Jesus.  The man asks what he must do to follow Jesus, and Jesus replies with listing the ten commandments.  To the man’s relief, he already does that!  Ahh.. but that isn’t enough.  Jesus instructs him to give all his money to the poor to follow Him.  

Okay, now I’m sitting at Jitters here looking at the ring on my ring finger and the keyboard on which I’m typing.   Outside, my car waits to successfully take me home in five minutes rather than fifty on foot to my house and dog.  If I prayed and Jesus said to me, “Sell everything you have,” would I do it?  I scratched my dog’s ears that night and decided that yes, I would even give her up to wade in deep waters with Christ. 

Would you give up anything?  

Guys!  I want to be at the place where everything I own is truly His.  I want to dip my toes where the waves lap over my feet and listen to his leading.  It might be to stay on shore at times (safety and security are healthy), but at other times, He may call us to an uncomfortable place of sacrifice, and I’m not speaking only of material possessions.  Sometimes we cling to our victim card for comfort, anger for justification, or lust for satisfaction.    

He wants to take me deeper.   He wants to take you deeper.  He cannot be an anchor while we wade in shallow water.  To be clear, I do not feel like I must sell all my possessions to follow Jesus, but I do long to be in a place where I WOULD.  I have a feeling that Jesus asked Him that because He knew that the man was only ready to jump into a kiddy pool.  Jesus gave His life for me, and I want to give my life to Him every single day.  We become attached to security, and while these things aren’t bad, per se, they can cripple our ability to give everything up for Jesus if we place our securities above Him.   

Who wants to go for a swim?  It might be scary, and even exhausting, but He longs to take us on a journey of faith and adventure with Him!