Dale Cresap's blog

Do you take credit for all of your ideas? Have you ever said an idea came to me? This implies an external source. If your thought processes don’t lead to a new idea by direct logical sequence, then where do they come from? My word asks what you have that you did not receive, and implies that the answer is nothing. It is a position of humility to acknowledge that you can’t take credit for your own creativity, but you are called to be poor in spirit. If you acknowledge me with gratitude I am prepared to pour out creativity on you in ever greater measure. Isn’t that better than claiming credit for little? 

Do you divide believers into those who perform ministry and those who do not? My illustration for my church is a body in which everything plays a part. The body benefits from that which every joint supplies. Yet at the same time every part of the body draws its very life and energy from the body as a whole. You should take pleasure from fulfilling the unique calling I have assigned you according to the gifts I have given you. At the same time be aware that those who give also need to receive. Those who minister should walk in the grace and humility to know that they need ministry themselves and the more visible their ministry the more important that they know it. 

Do you know that the peacemakers are blessed because they are my children? You find this in the Beatitudes and it is one of the later entries. Does it seem like a simple thing, and surprise you that it is listed after other deep spiritual principles? You are not in a position to bring peace to others until you have peace within yourself. It is easy to assume that you are more advanced here than you are. It is easy to see conflict, violence, and unrighteous judgment. When you see them, are you eager to use the same methods to oppose them? Becoming non-judgmental is a lifetime project. I give peace that passes understanding. Receive it that you may give it to others.

You know better than to present yourself as some superior and exalted believer. Do you know better than to make similar claims about your church? How many believers who present themselves with humility will nonetheless make grandiose claims about their church or denomination? Arrogance is hardly more attractive one level removed and humility should apply across the board. My body has many members and I want them to function together in harmony. My word teaches you to discern the Lord’s body and I want you to discern it as consisting of all believers for I am the head of one body. 

Have you met people who act as if things only have meaning as they relate to them? Another way to say this is that they are full of themselves, or all about them. It doesn’t take much discernment to realize that this is not a position of mature spirituality. Even unbelievers can see narrow selfish narcissism. I spoke highly of John the Baptist, but he said of himself that he must decrease. This applies to everyone who would grow in true understanding. You start with too firm an attachment to your own point of view, and this hinders your ability to see things the way they really are. As your own prominence diminishes you can walk in the light and know the truth. 

Do you think that only prophets hear from God? Some branches of my church place a high emphasis on spiritual gifts generally and prophecy in particular. There is a Biblical basis for this, but the Bible also teaches that my sheep hear my voice. Your ability to hear from me is not a spiritual gift in the narrow sense but an essential part of your relationship with me. What relationship exists without communication? Prophets have the ability to speak to others about general and specific messages from me. The flow of events in your life is unique to you and I want to speak to you individually as part of my relationship with you. 

Do you make it a point to live in a consecrated state, keeping short accounts with me and others and your issues resolved? Have you ever been in a sudden and unexpected situation where you need to call on me and felt that you had to do some catching up? You may have been surprised when I came to your rescue and things went better than you expected in the moment. Yet you are more effective for me if you remain in a state of preparedness, for there are some situations that cannot be deferred. I told my disciples that my time had not yet come but that theirs was always at hand, and yours is too. 

You know that one of my oldest commandments is to honor your father and mother that you may live long on the earth. Yet I also promised that those who left father and mother and brothers and sisters would receive many more in this life and in the world to come eternal life. You need a family to start your life but none of these is perfect. You can acquire some bad habits and negative baggage from them. Your process of growth and maturity requires moving beyond these things. Are you prepared to leave home in a spiritual sense to enter the broader identity and destiny I have for you? You can fulfill the ancient commandment to honor even as you do so. 

Do you know the truth? Do you consider yourself to have a monopoly on it? For my word says that you know in part. You will encounter others who also know in part. They may know a different part than you do. This presents you with two opportunities. Your first impulse may be to set them straight in areas in which their understanding is deficient. Have you ever had people do this to you? Shouldn’t you be as eager or more so to learn from them the aspects of truth they know that you have not learned yet? If you seek to learn then you may find a more receptive audience for what you have to teach. Let every man be quick to hear and slow to speak. Humility and patience will open doors for you.