Dale Cresap's blog

My description of marriage is of a man and woman becoming one flesh. Do you know married couples that you think of as a single unit, even though they have their own separate identities? This was my plan for their union and happiness but it serves an additional purpose for it illustrates a transcendent reality, for I spoke of Christ and the church. Just as you think of happily married couples as a single entity, do people look at you and me and think of us together as a single entity? This is the logical implication of having your life hidden in me, and letting your light shine before men that they may glorify me. 

People who are possessive of material things are called materialistic and this is not a compliment. Yet isn’t it worse to be possessive of another person? You can own things, but you can’t own other people, even those you are related to by birth or marriage, and to attempt to control them by manipulation is to violate their dignity and free will. This can be demanding and there are burdens to bear in accommodating their free will even as they bear with yours. Even though people are beyond your control, don’t you find more satisfaction in dealing with them than you do in dealing with things?

Do you structure your life for the greatest benefit, trying to get the greatest value out of your time and money? Are you always successful? I am better at optimizing your life than you are. It is not in a man that walks to direct his own steps. There is a great deal of humility in coming to recognize this, but at the same time there is liberty and enlightenment. From this position you can relax your grip on your own life and receive divine guidance. Those who do so are led by the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. The very best life for you isn’t created by you. You receive it from me rather than making it up yourself. 

Do you see my generosity everywhere you look, or do you think that you have paid for everything you own so that no gratitude is necessary? Where does your money come from? Do you see your ability to earn and acquire wealth as an expression of my provision? How successful would you be if you had none of your inherent advantages and the resources available to you? These all are gifts from me and my word affirms this in asking what you have that you did not receive? I want you to live in the light and understand the truth that you may walk in an attitude of humility and gratitude, knowing that even the things you pay for are gifts from me. 

Have you ever heard people say that they hate to eat and run? This is a very common apology because it is considered rude to accept the hospitality of a host’s banquet and not remain for their company. Do you see how the same principle can apply in a spiritual sense? How many people come to me to eat a quick meal of blessings, and run from my presence, and not think of this as rude? In my time on earth there were more people who liked the loaves and fishes than stayed to hear me teach, even while I spoke the words of life. You are correct in being grateful for your material blessings. Be even more diligent to seek above where you life is hid in me. 

Are you discouraged by the difficulties in your life? Do you see them as a reflection of your worth? There is an assumption according to human reasoning that bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. Yet I promised to send the sun and the rain, both of which are blessings, upon the good and upon the evil, and my own people experience both abundance and affliction. Don’t be discouraged by the trials you face. In particular don’t see them as an indication of your worth. Your value is based on my love for you and that makes you precious regardless of the circumstances of your life. 

What do you expect out of life? The world is full of change and uncertainty, but you can count on my promises. So what have I promised you?  If you enjoy a life that is comfortable and stable you may think it is normal and take it for granted, but this is not something that I have promised. Attend carefully to what I said and what I did not say. I did promise to meet your basic needs here but I also said that you would have trials and tribulations. Most of my promises pertained to my eternal Kingdom. That does not mean that you have to wait for them, for Kingdom life is available to you now, but it still pertains to those things above, not the wealth and security of this world that the gentiles seek. 

Have you ever been cut off from communication with a friend? What do you do if your attempts to reach them go unanswered? The temptation is to wonder what you did to offend them and think of reasons why they no longer want to talk to you. These are arguments from silence and you can create elaborate negative scenarios that have no real basis. Don’t be quick to assume the relationship is broken. There may be a more innocent explanation. How do you handle the same situation with me?

A man asked me one question and I gave him two answers. He asked what the greatest commandment was and I told him to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. So far so good. Yet I went on to say that the second commandment was similar to it, to love your neighbor as yourself. Why did I add this second commandment? Because it is too easy to claim you are following the first one in the abstract. The real demonstration of how well you keep it is shown in the love you have for your neighbor whom I also love. As my word also says, how can you love God whom you have not seen if you cannot love your brother whom you can see? 

Do you have strong tastes and preferences? Nearly everyone does. Do not confuse these with your identity.  I also encourage you to hold them with a loose grip, and not to criticize the preferences of others. For those without spiritual understanding think that they are the sum total of their preferences, so if you criticize these they take it personally. Then they are offended and you lose the chance to declare my Kingdom to them. Everyone likes their own best, but you cannot prove that yours are better. Hold yours gently, and firmly embrace the identity that you have in me.