Daily Devotion – January 12, 2021 – The Rev. Brian Malison

“Wade in the Water,” ELW 459

Refrain

Wade in the water, wade in the water, children
wade in the water,
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.

1 See that host all dressed in white,
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.
the leader looks like the Israelite.
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water

Refrain

2 See that band all dressed in red,
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.
Looks like the band that Moses led.
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.

Refrain

3 Look over yonder, what do I see?
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me.
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.

Refrain

4 If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed,
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.
Just follow me down to Jordan’s stream.
God’s a-goin’-a trouble the water.

Refrain

Devotion

If God’s purpose in baptism was to get someone to heaven, then it stands to reason that as soon as one is baptized, they would be snapped up by God into eternity. But our encounter with God in the water is just a foretaste of more waters to be crossed.

The African American spirituals speak often of the River Jordan. For them there was in the water a promise of crossing someday into the Promised Land. But the water is also a truth of the trials and harsh realities that they would yet need to cross in this lifetime.

Perhaps the unintended gift of this “Baptism of Jesus Sunday,” coming so early in January, is as a reminder that, no matter the rivers we need to cross in the year to come, our God is with us to strengthen and guide us.

No telling how we’ll be reminded of that in 2021.

Prayer

God, in this new year, be among us to shelter us from harm, and faith to trust in your leading. Grant that we might safely cross the waters that might be troubled during this year to come simply because we have walked through the baptismal waters and have been claimed by you. Amen.