Dale Cresap's blog

Does anyone have the right to do wrong? What about those who have suffered themselves? Beware that you do not adopt the victim mindset of entitlement that you are in a privileged class because of the things you have suffered. The rules still apply to you. Don’t you have greater admiration for those who bear difficulties cheerfully with grace than for those who complain? How much less for those who use their afflictions as license for wrongdoing? Your trials come at great cost to you. Don’t throw away these costly opportunities for they have the potential for great value. Let them advance my work of righteousness in you. 

You have heard it said that blood is thicker than water, and this affirms the value of family relationships. You have responsibilities toward those related to you if for no other reason than family loyalty. Yet have you found your family members reluctant to affirm you or join you in your spiritual journey? Have you proceeded on to find those who are likeminded and sensed a stronger kinship with them than with your own family?

My word makes many references to the poor. Do you think this refers only to a lack of money? Yet don’t you know people who are financially secure and still have areas in which they lead a diminished life? Ill health may be the example that first comes to mind, but it is not the only one. People can be impoverished mentally, emotionally, and relationally as well. You understand that you are not to despise the poor. Extend this principle to cover every dimension of poverty, for you experience it yourself in some ways, and I am their defender and advocate. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God. 

Do you see your country as dominated by partisan politics, unable to govern effectively because of opposing powers? Do you favor one party over the other and feel frustrated that ‘your’ side cannot implement the solutions that would solve all the problems? Yet political struggles are not light versus darkness. What person or party even if given free reign would be able to solve the problems of society? Do not think that spiritual problems can be solved politically. It isn’t wrong for you to vote for godly candidates and be involved in righteous causes, but remember that you are a citizen of my Kingdom which is not of this world. 

Do you think that you will get what you deserve? Or that you deserved what you already got? The concepts of commerce and your justice system are deeply embedded in your thinking, and you can see causes and effects directly. But in the ultimate sense that really matters these concepts break down. For I make the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the righteous and the wicked, and both also suffer regardless of their righteousness of lack thereof. Don’t those who have received salvation acknowledge that it is a free gift? If you receive grace you are getting better than you deserve. Don’t resent it when others get better than they deserve too. 

My word gives you a protocol for dealing with heretics. This is a last resort for those who will not stop teaching false doctrine. Do you ever want to apply this ultimate sanction against sinners? Yet the Bible makes a distinction between those who sin and those who propagate false teaching, since these are not the same things. Don’t you see me making the same distinction during my time of ministry on earth? Those who sin harm themselves but those who teach heresy harm many. Correction is required in both cases. You should not be eager to rush into this, but be eager to accept and restore those who repent. 

In the beginning I told Adam that the ground was cursed for the sake of his disobedience and that he would have to toil to make it produce. You refer to this as the fall of man, and so you have to earn a living to this day. Do you see your job as an impediment to serving me? If you had more free time available would you use it for Christian ministry and service? For most people it is not the concept of work that bothers them, but the tasks available, the amount they pay, and who they work for. I want you to have a positive view of this rather than viewing it as an unpleasant necessity. You are working for me. Trust me to give you the right assignment and meet your needs.

Have you ever been defensive? In this condition you are ready to fight for something. You may think that being defensive is not as bad as being offensive, and that it is a normal reaction to offense, but it still closes you off to learning and growth. What do you have to defend? I am well prepared to defend the truth, and I can defend you better than you can defend yourself. In following my call to die to yourself you should release personal opinions and not defend them either. Are you amazed at my commandment that you resist not evil, but turn the other cheek? Those who do find that they have a strong defender, and position themselves to learn and grow. 

It was once accepted that only one style of music was suitable for Christian worship. Now you encounter many more styles depending on the setting. Do you enjoy the increase in variety or does it disturb you? You are entitled to your own preferences and these can be as narrow as you please. These are called tastes and are uniquely yours. Yet my Kingdom is broad and inclusive rather than narrow and selective. Do not let your tastes become a basis for division. I criticized the Pharisees for letting their traditions make my word of no effect. Don’t let your taste in music or anything else divide my body. 

You live in a world of time, speed, and distance. You make good estimates of travel times based on experience and expect them to be fairly consistent. This makes for an efficient use of your time and allows you to keep a schedule. Yet in the economy of my Kingdom, you are always available for an assignment that you may not have planned for. A Samaritan was traveling and encountered a crime victim in need of assistance. He stopped to help, causing him an unexpected delay and expense. Yet for this he is known throughout the world as the Good Samaritan. Are you willing to have your day interrupted to carry out my assignments?