Dale Cresap's blog

Do you find yourself under a lot of pressure to lead a conventional life? Some choices in career paths and purchases are considered safe and stable and you can make strong arguments for them. If you don’t, others will make them for you and to you. Yet your heart has a destiny I placed there, and it may not fit the conventional pattern of the world. Your life may be easier if you follow the well-worn path, but this is not the abundant life I have for you. Isn’t it obvious that the abundant life is not the easiest one? You have fire shut up in your bones. Your heart wants to let it out and burn. 

Has anyone ever told you to grow up? This is usually a condescending remark rather than encouragement, but my word contains the same concept when it tells you to put away childish things. This is not a call to reject the foundation on which you stand, or the earlier phases that you passed through, even while you were a child and before you were saved. It is a call to come up to a higher vantage point where you have a greater perspective. Those earlier stages were at the time your entire world. Now you can see them more objectively as stages passing through and understand their true value in bringing you to maturity. 

You pass from death into life by saying yes to me. This changes your status and citizenship in a moment. Yet have you known people who said yes to me once, and never again? Do you wonder about their standing with me? You do not need to make a determination about them, for I taught you not to say, even in your heart, ‘who shall ascend into heaven and who shall descend into hell?’ Leave them in my hands, but for your own sake think of eternal life as saying yes to me not just once, but continually. This is how you are transformed, and the process by which you are changed into my likeness. 

When I did something my disciples didn’t understand I acknowledged that at the time they didn’t know, but promised that they would understand later. But it was still important that they accepted what I did at the time, even if they didn’t understand it. You have the advantage of the perspective of history, to see the importance of what I did, and how my followers came to understand the meaning of it later. Do you understand that this is an enduring principle? Have you seen it in your own life? Have I ever done anything in your life you didn’t understand at the time? Be prepared to receive them rather than reject them, for as you walk with me in them you will come to understand. 

Do you hold the position that you have to agree with everything someone else says to agree with anything they say? This is too exclusive a standard. You know in part, and everyone else knows in part also, perhaps a different part. If you demand that they know everything before you can learn from them they you cut yourself off from all learning. If you want to enlarge the part you know then be willing to receive and rejoice with any truth you find even if the source has limited knowledge, for all truth comes from me. Seek and you will find, so look for truth rather than error.  

Do you look for value when you shop, comparing alternatives so you get the best bargain? This is how to get the most for your money. By this measure, is salvation a good deal? You don’t buy it with money, and there are no real alternatives in the marketplace, but the concept of benefit and cost can still be applied, in this case on an absolute scale. For if you really understand and make the commitment, it costs you everything. Yet you gain eternal life in the process. Then the basis for comparison is whether what you gain is better than what you surrender. Blessed are those who know the value of the pearl of great price. 

Do you like the parts of the Bible that promise you victory, that say you will always triumph? You can’t lose. Yet have you found that your victory doesn’t always look like winning according to the commonly accepted understanding or what you expected? For Christian victory is consistent with suffering and affliction, being hated of all men for my sake, and laying down your life for me. For the victory I promise you is according to the principles of my Kingdom, not the definitions of this world. Learning to understand this will keep you from confusion and doubt. A Kingdom perspective will enable you to see you always have victory in me. 

Some jobs have specific academic credentials required of applicants. Those without them need not apply. Yet for those already in the field, experience is a more valued indicator of competence. You will note that there are several church positions described in my word. Have you noticed that none of them have academic credentials required? This is not to disparage study and preparation and training. These can be formalized classroom instruction or life experience in the same way I taught my own disciples. Can you see that in the ‘real world’ competence of execution trumps academic background? The same is true in my Kingdom. 

Do you think that all faiths are narrow, exclusive, and intolerant? Each claims their own doctrines are correct and others are not. How does your own faith compare? My word makes a clear statement of truth and claims to be the only way. Yet in my time of ministry on earth I reached out to include rather than to push away. The Samaritan doctrine was incorrect and I said so to the woman at the well, but my acceptance of her led to my word taking root in her town. I also told a story about a Good Samaritan who showed kindness to one in need. I commend your diligence in seeking truth. Be just as diligent to be accepting and inclusive to sow seed everywhere. 

Are you familiar with the concept of stewardship? In your church is this used as a euphemism for giving money? Cheerful and generous giving is good, but this reflects a misunderstanding of the stewardship concept. Stewards are managers of resources belonging to others who have committed them to their care. Do you understand that everything you have is a gift from me? Then your first act of stewardship is to return a portion directly into my work. The remainder is for you to manage on my behalf. Does it discourage you to think that you own nothing yourself? You are bought with a price and in me you possess all things.