Dale Cresap's blog

I said that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness were blessed because they would be filled. How hungry are you? A woman came to me on behalf of her daughter. She was an outsider to the nation of Israel and I told her that I was sent to the Israelites, saying that it wasn’t appropriate to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. Can you believe I made such an insulting statement? Yet the woman endured the insult and said that dogs got the crumbs that fell from the table. I commended her for her faith and her hunger that would not be denied and healed her daughter. Are you hungry enough for righteousness to endure opposition to get it? 

You are familiar with the concept of a comfort zone. Are you also familiar with the idea of a safety zone? This is larger than your comfort zone because there are things you are uncomfortable with that will not hurt you. Even so your safety zone is larger than you think, because you have my promise that I hold you in my hand, and nothing shall by any means harm you or separate you from my love. You can’t grow if you remain in your comfort zone, but if you are willing to get out of it to follow where I lead, I will watch over you and keep you safe from harm while you grow in righteousness and love. 

I promised that if you seek you would find. Have you ever looked for something? Do you understand that there are various types of searches? A tourist may wander around looking for interesting sights or a good vantage point for taking a picture. If you have ever lost your car keys the concept of a search takes on greater focus and urgency. You can’t proceed with your life the way you want to until you find them. Your spiritual life is a journey into an unknown future rather than a search for something that was in your pocket a few minutes ago. Do you still see it as essential to moving forward in life? 

There are two pivotal events in time. One of them has occurred in my first advent. The second is still to come, in my return. The first one occurred with little observation. Most of the people in the world were unaware that I had come even after my death and resurrection. This will not be so the second time, and you can expect some dramatic changes. Yet you do not have to be taken by surprise. I invite you to walk with me now and if you seek me I will reveal myself to you now. Then when I return we will not be strangers but we will be as familiar to each other as friends, and both glad to be face to face at last. 

Do you find that some Bible concepts are so difficult that they can only be understood through revelation of mystery? Except you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man you have no life in you. My own disciples had trouble with that. Yet others are so plain and simple that no insight is required. Cast your net wide and sort out the catch on the deck. Gather the good into vessels and throw the rest overboard. You don’t even have to be a believer to get that. You may spend a profitable lifetime pondering the mysteries of my Kingdom. As you do, don’t neglect the simple truths that are still eternal truths.

Do you know of liberals and conservatives who are both eager to claim that I am on their side? Both sides claim they are right, even if they don’t agree with each other about anything. I warned that many would come in my name, and not to follow them. This concept of coming in my name can be understood broadly. They don’t have to be a false Christ for you to be wary of them. Beware of anyone who uses my name to enlist support for their cause that falls short of the fullness of truth. The question isn’t whether I am on your side, but whether you are on mine. 

Who are you? When you meet people, is the first thing you ask them is how they earn a living? If you don’t volunteer that information to them they are likely to ask you the same thing. And so it is an accepted social construct to put forth an image of yourself in terms of your utility and economic productivity. There is status involved in outranking others, so these images are carefully cultivated and those who write them come to identify with them, but the essence of your being is more than this. Even in the realm of spiritual service I told my followers to rejoice not in this, that the demons were subject to them, but that their names were written in my Book of Live. Is this enough for you?

You can grasp a tree limb, and if it is sturdy enough it will support your weight, but this requires effort on your part and over time you will experience fatigue in hanging on. If you try to grasp water you will come away with a hand that is wet but empty, because water is formless. Yet if you are willing to be immersed in it you will find that it supports you. Are you trying to support yourself by the familiar forms you are accustomed to? Do you experience fatigue from doing this? You may not be as aware of me as you are of the sturdy things around you, but you are immersed in me and I will do a better job of supporting you without fatigue. 

Have you noticed that some people say that I exist and live as if I didn’t and others deny me in their words but live as if my commandments are true? Do you expect atheists to live in total lawless wild abandon? Yet even among those who declare my name and devote themselves to my service there can be a subtle form of denial. For some of these live and work as though their service in my Kingdom is based on their own initiative and effort. It is one thing to pray ‘thy will be done’ and then go ahead with your own plans, and another thing to continue praying until you know my will is revealed to you, and obey it. 

You are aware that extremists and countries at war make an effort to dehumanize their enemies to make them easier to oppose and fight. It is easier to hate if you can see no common connection between you. Yet my commandment to you is to love your enemies and do good to those who despitefully use you and persecute you. This is movement in the opposite direction. How can you make it easier to do this? You can look at your enemies not only as human as you are, but also made in my image. If you can see me in them it is easier to ask me to forgive them for they know not what they do.