Dale Cresap's blog

What sort of things do you think I care about? Do you think I care only about believers and activities that take place in church? You know I care about the poor. What about helping you in the world of commerce, in the way you make your living? Do you think I care about whether your favorite team wins the game? Sports fans are some of the most devout believers in the world and offer the most fervent prayers. Would it surprise you to find that that I do care about who wins the game? This is because I care about everything, for everything is in my Kingdom and has a purpose.

Do you find that everyone has their favorite subjects to talk about? Given an opportunity and audience they can talk for a long time. Have you ever been the audience and given someone the opportunity to take the lead in the conversation? Did you find this interesting or boring? How do people feel about your stories when you have a chance to do this? Do you find stories more interesting if  they contain something you can relate to rather than being detached particulars?

Have you ever heard someone receiving recognition saying that they are humbled and honored? This is a commonplace phrase, but does it occur to you that these are opposite concepts? How is it that they are so often used together? Is it reasonable to think that both could occur together? If you follow me you may find yourself performing some exploits along the way. If people notice and commend you it is an opportunity for you to say that the credit is due to me. What do you have that you did not receive?

Do you expect worship to be therapeutic or transformational? It can be both. Therapeutic implies healing, and healing is available in my presence. My healing ministry is as active as it was on earth, and more so, being released from the limitations of time and space. Everyone needs healing at some time, but the purpose of healing is to restore you to a prior functional condition. I offer you that, but I want you to look ahead. The transformation I offer you will take you to a place you have never been before. Are you ready to go there?

How do you select the books you read, your teachers, and other sources of instruction? Do you have a methodical process for this? Does it seem that you come across just the right thing at the time you are ready for it? Perhaps you are being led by the Spirit. Have I not promised  to perfect that which concerns you? You are constantly surrounded by lessons. When you are ready you will see them. Be alert, be aware, be attentive, be receptive and the lessons will find you. He who has ears to hear and eyes to see, let him hear and see. When I open doors for you walk through them.

What is your motivation for going to church? Do you go for your own benefit or for the benefit of the Kingdom of God? Is it possible to get both? How many people do you know who do not go to church because they don’t get anything out of it? I addressed this matter when I said that if you seek to save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake and the Kingdom of God, you will find it. Is this passage a mystery to you?

Have you ever heard of anything described as awesome? Have you heard this term being applied to every item of passing interest? Awe is a legitimate concept, but the term is applied far too loosely today. Things that are really awesome have a profound effect on you. Awesome things have an expansive scope and scary intensity that leaves you shook up and reminded that you are not the center and measure of all things. This is what the prophet experienced when he said, Woe is me, for I have seen the Lord. It is what you long for but cannot endure.

So let a man examine himself. You recognize this famous passage about the process of taking communion. This doesn’t have to be a grim review of everything you have done wrong. You may get more benefit from an honest evaluation of what is working for you and what is not, and deciding to do more of what is and less of what isn’t. How often do you take communion? The passage says you should perform this self-evaluation at these times but does not limit it to those. You don’t need to wait for a sacramental ritual.

Have you heard of people who can dish it out but can’t take it? This is no compliment. It implies that someone is eager to be critical, but unable to receive criticism themselves. In a world of perfect symmetry those who are eager to give criticism should be willing to receive it as well, and those who cannot receive it should refrain from giving it. Yet there is another possibility. What about those who are able to receive criticism but hesitate to give it? This would be a position of grace, one who benefits from criticism if it is justified, and refuses to react against unjust criticism.

Do you believe in people? Have you ever heard a fellow believer say they only believe in God and not in people? This may sound very spiritual, but if you look beneath the surface you will find underlying bitterness and isolation. The greatest two commandments are to love God with all you have and your neighbor as yourself. The beloved disciple expounded on this to say how can you love God whom you have not seen if you do not love your brother whom you have seen? You can extend this same principle to believing, understanding that it is different from believing for salvation.