Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever heard the exclamation, ‘is nothing sacred?’ for some people there is nothing sacred, but for most people some things are and some things are not. Are you willing to consider that there is nothing that is not sacred? You may divide your daily activities between the spiritual and the secular, but nothing exists independent of its source. Everything derives meaning and purpose from its attachment to the divine. If you feel trapped and obligated to perform mundane and routine tasks and find them boring, ask of me and I will show you where they fit in my Kingdom and everything will be sacred to you. 

Have you heard of some believers criticized for only being Christians on Sunday? This implies hypocrisy and there are some who are involved in sinful behavior during the rest of the week. You know that the gospel message should apply to every area of your life all the time. Yet even those Christians who are not involved in sin can go for days without a felt sense of my presence. I promised to be with you always, and in me you live and move and have your being. I want you to be aware of this that your eyes may be open to see everything I do around and in you continually, for I fill all of life. 

Moses saw a burning bush. This is not remarkable in itself, since nearly all bushes will burn under the right conditions, but this bush was not consumed. This got Moses attention, and I told him to take off his shoes, since he was standing on holy ground. I told my audiences, let him who has ears to hear, let him hear. Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Do you see the world around you as infused with divine purpose and intervention? This is the reality that surrounds you whether you see it or not. Taking off your shoes is an appropriate response. If you have difficulty seeing this spiritual reality, try taking off your shoes either literally or figuratively as an act of faith to assist your vision. 

My word tells you to honor all men. Do you think it is enough to be civil to them? That is only a start. It is not enough to be polite. Good manners are necessary, but honor requires more. Do you take a genuine interest in the people you meet, inquiring about their interests and allowing them to choose topics of conversation? Do you refrain from offering negative opinions about things important to them? You know how to show honor to those you admire, or who outrank you, or whose favor you seek. My commandment just requires you to show the same behavior to those to whom you would otherwise be indifferent. 

My word tells you to honor all men. Do you think it is enough to be civil to them? That is only a start. It is not enough to be polite. Good manners are necessary, but honor requires more. Do you take a genuine interest in the people you meet, inquiring about their interests and allowing them to choose topics of conversation? Do you refrain from offering negative opinions about things important to them? You know how to show honor to those you admire, or who outrank you, or whose favor you seek. My commandment just requires you to show the same behavior to those to whom you would otherwise be indifferent. 

As a leader, do you consider yourself to be in charge or in control? To be in charge implies a commission to lead within the parameters assigned to you, as I have charged you to carry out your assignments. To be in control implies domination of those under you. The first is Biblical leadership because you are under my authority and authorized to lead as I have commissioned you. The second is not because I have given liberty to those under you, and your leadership is not to control them.  It is only as you are led by my Spirit that you can help people find their own destinies in me and at the same time lead them to work together effectively. 

Are you in a position of leadership? Don’t be quick to respond that this category doesn’t include you. Not all leaders have recognized offices and titles and a well-defined group of followers. You are a leader in some way whether you recognize it or not. Do you think of leadership in terms of hierarchies? I turned this upside down when I taught my disciples that he who would be the greatest among you should be the servant of all. Therefore do not be discouraged if you do not have a conventional position of leadership. If you let your light shine before men that they may glorify me, I will call you a good and faithful servant leader. 

Do you see the world around you infused with transcendent meaning? Do you see this in the ordinary actions you take every day? Would you like to? Animals eat because hunger drives them. You eat also, and can do it for the same reason, but do you think of food only as fuel? This is a common task that you can enrich with spiritual meaning. Do you consider the goodness of my creation and my promise of harvest when you partake of its fruits? Do you do so with gratitude and an acknowledgement of your continual dependence on me?

Have you ever been through an audit? Most people would not volunteer for this and those who face them involuntarily do not wish to repeat the experience. Who would want someone else to delve into the details of their finances or any other area of life to be examined for errors? Yet I invite you to examine yourself, and to come and let us reason together, so I am inviting you to come to me for an audit. This isn’t just about your finances, but includes everything in your life. You may find this painful, but I still invite you to come voluntarily. He who falls on this stone will be broken, but not crushed, and I offer redemption in areas that need correction. 

Do you think of Pilgrims as the original settlers of America? Do you understand that this is a general term for those on a spiritually motivated journey? Then do you see that this term could apply to you? My word makes references to sojourners and this is not a term reserved for a select few, but applies to all who are willing to venture forth. Are you? This isn’t as much a matter of time, speed, and distance as it is a state of mind to seek and keep on seeking in a world that is not really your home, where all things are impermanent. You have my promise that if you keep seeking those things that are above you will keep finding them.