Dale Cresap's blog

All armies and some schools have their members wear uniforms. This is not done to limit individual creativity, but to give a common sense of identity and purpose. Can you imagine trying to form recruits into an army if they remained in civilian clothes? Yet I refer to my people as an army and they don’t wear uniforms, even though all the reasons that soldiers do are valid. How do I accomplish the same ends without them? I am looking for spiritual unity which is above and beyond the uniformity that armies strive for. Do you see the evidence of it around you? Contend for it by faith that you may see and practice unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Do you tend to associate with people of similar beliefs? Are you more concerned that your friends be doctrinally correct, or that their lives are expressions of goodness and kindness and love? Ideally they would be both, as would you, but I gave an example in my word of a good Samaritan who was the good neighbor to the beaten man because he showed kindness even though his beliefs were in error. This was a clear example of how I rank priorities. Aren’t you attracted to those who display these qualities more than those who are right about everything? Others feel the same way about you. 

Have you noticed how many more choices you have available to you today? Products that used to come in one version are now customizable with a multitude of colors, features, and styles. You used to have to get used to whatever was available. Now it appears that the world is infinitely malleable to meet your preferences. My word tells you not to be conformed to this world. Do you accomplish this through the expression of your choices as a consumer? Everyone around you has the same choices.

Have you heard it said that blood is thicker than water? This implies the substance of family relations. Yet I tell you that relationship is thicker than blood. Haven’t you experienced this yourself, in finding a stronger bond between yourself and your friends than at least some of your relatives? In my time on earth I said that my brothers were those who heard and obeyed the word of God. You would like to have those related to you to accompany you on your spiritual journey but you have no assurance of this. You do have my promise that those who are rejected by their families for my sake will have a hundredfold of brothers as companions as they walk with me. 

Large institutions of higher learning are called universities. The name implies universal instruction; learning in every field of human knowledge. This is a strong claim to make. Do you see yourself as a student? I tell you that you are enrolled in the great university of the Holy Spirit. I want you to look at every event of life as a learning experience. Do not ask whether there are things to learn from what you go through, but what I am saying to you through them. For I promised to send the Comforter to lead you into all truth. Expect this and you will see it everywhere you look. 

Have you ever been in a conflict between the leading of the Spirit and Biblical doctrine? Peter had a vision of unclean animals and the Spirit told him to kill and eat. He refused based on his understanding of scripture and tradition. He was told not to consider unclean things that I declared to be clean. After the vision he had the opportunity to minister the gospel to those outside his comfort zone. He responded as I intended and then understood the vision. You are called to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. Do you trust me enough to follow me even when it conflicts with your understanding of scripture? 

How do you define the essentials of your faith? Are they positive or negative? A surprising number of people are surer of what they are opposed to and what they are not than who they are and what they are for. Believers are in a position to make an affirmative case for their identity and what they stand for. How tragic it is when they define themselves by who they reject and what practices they oppose. Evil is real as is the distinction between darkness and light. Yet you can give artificial support to darkness by defining yourself in contrast to it. You are children of light and of the day. Seek and affirm my Kingdom and let your light shine. 

Do you consider my word to be inspired? Has it occurred to you that none of the authors knew what they were doing? This is not to say that they were incompetent, but they didn’t sit down with the purpose of writing scripture. They wrote their thoughts and accounts of events. It wasn’t until later that it was entered into scripture. Yet the inspiration was there from the beginning. Does your life and even ministry seem mundane to you? Don’t expect your writings to be included in scripture, but I am still able to work according to the same principle. Be faithful with what I give you to do and I will fill it with divine life. 

You have my promise that wherever two or three are gathered in my name that I am present in the midst of them. You also have my promise that I am with you always, and this applies even when you are alone. The promise about two or three is very specific. Have you not experienced this yourself? Do you assume that the passage implies the same effect for an unlimited number of people? That is not stated. Have you ever found your awareness of my presence diminished in a large crowd, even one assembled in my name? Maintain your focus on me, even in a crowd, and your presence will bring my presence. 

Do you have an innate sense of beauty and appreciate the beauty you see around you? Do you think of me as being beautiful or do you only use this term for things you can see? Perhaps you think it is a shallow and superficial concept, as so much of attractiveness is in your culture. Yet my word describes me as beautiful and the Psalmist said the only thing he desired was to inquire in my temple and behold my beauty. If you have spiritual vision and discernment you will see me as more beautiful than anything around you and rejoice to adore me.